Shunning and Stunning Malicious Networks
Summary: McAfee's sixth Security Journal includes a Krebs piece on the pros and cons of taking down ISPs and botnets that facilitate cybercrime, analyzing historical examples he calls "shuns" (ostracizing rogue networks) and "stuns" (crippling their infrastructure in a coordinated surprise attack). The piece cites the fall 2007 investigative stories about the Russian Business Network in St. Petersburg, after which the ISPs serving the hosting conglomerate pulled the plug and RBN was forced to close and scatter its operations.
Key Takeaway: The RBN takedown began with press coverage, not a technical control - and a commenter recounts a message from well-connected criminals warning that going after McColo next would be "pushing his luck," a reminder that naming hostile infrastructure puts a target on the person doing the naming.
Read the original at Krebs on Security ↗
- Topics
- Data Breaches
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