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Attack disables music industry Web site (RIAA DOS attack)
Cnet.com ^ | July 29, 2002, 4:20 PM PT | Declan McCullagh

Posted on 07/30/2002 11:27:23 AM PDT by weegee

WASHINGTON--The Recording Industry Association of America's Web site was unreachable over the weekend due to a denial-of-service attack.

The apparently deliberate overload rendered the RIAA.org site unavailable for portions of four days and came after the group endorsed legislation to allow copyright holders to disrupt peer-to-peer networks.

The malicious flood started on Friday and did not involve any intrusion into the RIAA's internal network, a representative for the trade association said on Monday afternoon. Nobody has claimed credit for the denial-of-service attack, which ended at 2 a.m. PDT on Monday.

"Don't they have something better to do during the summer than hack our site?" asked the RIAA representative, who asked not to be identified. "Perhaps it at least took 10 minutes away from stealing music."

Denial-of-service attacks overwhelm an Internet site by enlisting hundreds or thousands of other machines that attempt to make simultaneous connections. The resulting overload resembles a physical traffic jam: Few people can get through.

On Thursday, the RIAA endorsed a bill written by Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., that would authorize copyright holders to begin "blocking, diverting or otherwise impairing" peer-to-peer networks.

RIAA CEO Hilary Rosen said in a statement that Berman's bill was "an innovative approach," adding that "it makes sense to clarify existing laws to ensure that copyright owners--those who actually take the time and effort to create an artistic work--are at least able to defend their works from mass piracy."

Berman's bill, co-authored with Rep. Howard Coble, R-N.C., would allow the RIAA to engage in precisely this kind of denial-of-service attack against peer-to-peer networks where illicit copies of music are traded.

The RIAA, which receives connectivity through WorldCom's UUNet subsidiary, said it would not speculate about the reason for the attack. A representative said it appears to have been the first time the group's site had been knocked offline.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: denialofservice; hackers; internet; musicindustry; riaa
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The irony of their site being disabled while they are authoring legislation to do the same to their enemies is lost on them.
1 posted on 07/30/2002 11:27:23 AM PDT by weegee
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To: weegee
Perhaps it at least took ten minutes away from stealing from artists.
2 posted on 07/30/2002 11:32:55 AM PDT by mykej
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To: weegee
Let me say up front that I had absolutely nothing to do with the DOS attack and I don't have any idea how one would go about doing it.

As an interested observer, I would say that this attack was a shot across the bow.

3 posted on 07/30/2002 11:33:42 AM PDT by Pete
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To: mykej
I find it amazing that during a time of widespread revulsion towards corporations that the music industry would push so hard for legislation that would allow them to annoy even more people than ever before. This is truly a dazzling move as far as P.R. goes. Brilliant!

They should write this whole thing up as a short textbook, and title it "How to become the target of every script kiddie in the known universe in one easy lesson."

4 posted on 07/30/2002 11:42:30 AM PDT by Billy_bob_bob
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To: Pete
Coudn't have happened to a nicer bunch of people...
5 posted on 07/30/2002 11:53:24 AM PDT by sawsalimb
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To: Pete
"I would say that this attack was a shot across the bow. "

BOOM!!!! I would say you are right. If they ever start hacking consumers computers look for a full blown cyber war to break out! I wouldn't put my money on RIAA.

6 posted on 07/30/2002 11:54:10 AM PDT by monday
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To: sawsalimb
I liked it how RIAA is a .ORG. I thought that domain was for non-profits...
7 posted on 07/30/2002 11:54:43 AM PDT by weegee
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To: monday
I'd like to see them try to prosecute a "hacker" for doing the same type of DOS attack that RIAA is trying to legislate permission for.

Jury nullification is a wonderful thing.

8 posted on 07/30/2002 11:56:16 AM PDT by weegee
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To: Pete
Let me say up front that I had absolutely nothing to do with the DOS attack and I don't have any idea how one would go about doing it.

As an interested observer, I would say that this attack was a shot across the bow.

(Shaking head slowly) Deplorable!

W00T! W00T! 2600 R3wlZ! RIAA 1z O\^/ned.

When For-Hire crooks are publicly bribed to introduce laws to allow the Mob to attack people's machines, and they crow about it in the Press, it becomes The Little Bluebirds taking on the Hell's Angels.

Attack my machine, Mob.

Make My Day.

9 posted on 07/30/2002 11:56:31 AM PDT by Gorzaloon
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To: Pete
As an interested observer, I would say that this attack was a shot across the bow.

Yup. I predicted this just a few days ago in another thread. If the legislation passes, the RIAA site, many record company sites, and every IP address found to contain RIAA attack bots will be under constant, unceasing attack from tens of thousands of hackers around the world.

10 posted on 07/30/2002 11:57:52 AM PDT by Timesink
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To: monday
Nice people or not, like them or hate them--doesn't matter. They are trying to protect their property and the hackers are wrong.
11 posted on 07/30/2002 11:59:11 AM PDT by Musket
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To: weegee
...Berman's bill was "an innovative approach," adding that "it makes sense to clarify existing laws to ensure that copyright owners--those who actually take the time and effort to create an artistic work--are at least able to defend their works from mass piracy."

It legalizes vigilanteism and permits vandalism. Might as well suspend all law.

12 posted on 07/30/2002 11:59:44 AM PDT by weegee
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To: weegee
Things are going to get worse.

Hope these music mobsters got some REALLY good network security. They're going to need it.

13 posted on 07/30/2002 12:10:34 PM PDT by Jonathon Spectre
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To: weegee
I don't know....perhaps such an attack every weekend for about a month might get their attention??

A serious high-five to those responsible!!

GOOD JOB!!!!

14 posted on 07/30/2002 12:10:51 PM PDT by Houmatt
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To: weegee
Paging Mr. Smurf, Mr. Papa Smurf, please.
15 posted on 07/30/2002 12:13:11 PM PDT by Bandolier
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To: weegee
Traditionally, yes .org is non-profit, but its only tradition. Anyone can buy any .net, .com, or .org as they please.
16 posted on 07/30/2002 12:13:44 PM PDT by jae471
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To: Musket
They are trying to protect their property and the hackers are wrong.

Perhaps; but if so, they are wrong the way Robin Hood was wrong.
17 posted on 07/30/2002 12:15:46 PM PDT by BikerNYC
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To: weegee; Timesink
I noticed that "non-profit" designator too. Not sure who these characters think they're fooling. As for the hackers,while I deplore their methods(really and truly. Absolutely,one hunnert percent deplore them,lol)it's going to be very difficult for the RIAA to get anyone overtly on their side on this issue. And it looks like they're already outnumbered and outgunned by the people who don't like what their pet legislators are passing into law.
18 posted on 07/30/2002 12:15:51 PM PDT by sawsalimb
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To: Jonathon Spectre
They can always go back to roughing up bar owners with their toughs and muscle if they don't shakedown enough $$$ from peer-to-peer operators.

The RIAA is great at extracting money from establishments and companies but it isn't as good at accurately dispersing it to its clients.

19 posted on 07/30/2002 12:20:04 PM PDT by weegee
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To: Musket
They are trying to protect their property and the hackers are wrong.

Nope. The law will not allow me to defend my property using means that knowingly or recklessly spills over onto innocent bystanders. For instance, shotgun booby-traps are illegal, because there's too much risk of hitting an innocent bystander if it goes off by accident or killing a fireman or cop responding to an emergency. Rosen & Co. should be in prison for attempting to buy a different rule for themselves, and should get on their knees thanking Beelzebub that they've gotten off lightly with hack attacks instead.

20 posted on 07/30/2002 12:20:52 PM PDT by steve-b
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