Vandals deface ex-hacker Mitnick's site

Daily Newsletters

Sign up to ZDNet UK's daily newsletter.

NEWS
Ex-hacker Kevin Mitnick is learning firsthand that online scofflaws are a fickle lot. Twice in the past two weeks, online vandals -- like the ones who tagged many Web sites with "Free Kevin!" graffiti during Mitnick's time in prison -- broke into the Web server of the former hacker's security start-up, Defensive Thinking. "The consequence of the attack was insignificant to us, but could have been worse if the person had real malicious intent," Mitnick, now an independent security consultant, said in a forum on his Web site. "I did, however, install all the latest patches to prevent the same exploit from working in the future. I suppose it was kind of a wake-up call." The incidents are the latest form of attention that the Internet underground has bestowed on Mitnick. The former hacker's volunteers have to stave off attacks on his Web site regularly. In addition, Mitnick has received a great deal of email asking for hacking advice or jobs. The hacks have ratcheted up the interest from the online world, however. On 30 January, an online vandal using the handle BugBear bypassed the security on Mitnick's Web server. The server ran on Microsoft's popular Internet Information Server, but didn't have all the patches applied, the security consultant readily acknowledges. The vandal was considerate, Mitnick said. He didn't replace any files or damage any data, but added only a single Web page. Bugbear's message: "welcome back to freedom mr.kevin ;)". A second attack succeeded in using the same flaw to gain access to the Web server on Sunday night, Mitnick said. Mitnick seemed more amused, rather than threatened, by the entire event. "Now I'm in the process of securing the box and not depending on our volunteers," he said in an interview Monday. He also added that he follows the recommended practice of placing the Web server outside his company's internal network. Such a configuration is called a demilitarised zone -- a term borrowed from the military for a no-man's land -- and minimises damage when an attacker breaks into a computer that has to be relatively open to the public, such as a Web server. Instead of gaining access to the entire network, an attacker only gets into a relatively untrusted computer. Now in the middle of patching the server, Mitnick said the only hitch was with Microsoft's IIS Lockdown tool, which seems to have thrown a wrench into the works. "Something that should have taken me a few minutes is now more like a couple of hours," he said. Microsoft seemed surprised that the former hacker was having troubles with the tool. "That's not a tool that we have had complaints about," a company representative said.
For all security-related news, including updates on the latest viruses, hacking exploits and patches, check out ZDNet UK's Security News Section. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom.

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

  • Login

Will not be displayed with your comment

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

JCB33

How dare film makers, artists or anybody that invests in creativity stop us pirating their works for free. I want to be able to walk into my local...

3 minutes ago by JCB33 on ACTA stumbles in Germany
Moley

@GrueMaster. I prefer horses for courses rather than one size fits all. I, and I suspect most other computer users, do not really wish to have...

2 hours ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
greycynic

The product that scares me every time I have to use it is the Office 2007 version of Excel. The first bug that I found was applying the median...

2 hours ago by greycynic on Ten flawed products that derail productivity
GrueMaster

Nice review and very informative. One thing I'd like to add (in reply to whs001's 1st question), the main reason to have the same interface from...

4 hours ago by GrueMaster on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Frederick Wrigley

I'be been using Mint 12 since the RC came out, and I am far more happy with the Cinnamon, the Mate, and, yes (with extensions), theGnome 3...

4 hours ago by Frederick Wrigley via Facebook on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
bdantas

Excellent article. One small correction, though--although a fresh installation of Linux Mint 12 will, indeed, provide the user with a version of...

5 hours ago by bdantas on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Alan Ralph

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

6 hours ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material
Alan Ralph

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

6 hours ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material
Moley

For Gnome 2 die-hards, it is possible to add icons to the bottom panel (or top top panel, if you prefer) which provide the exact Gnome 2...

7 hours ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
ramwellian

Your comments would seem pretty naive and immature. Your 'solution' appears to be, "gee, let's all just give in to the hackers and give them...

7 hours ago by ramwellian on Cloud computing security: no more oxymoron?
BugStalker

"Interesting thought ... If you installed Win7 as a dual boot on a machine that previously only had Linux, and it wrecked your Linux installation,...

7 hours ago by BugStalker on Windows 7 Declares War on GRUB
whs001

This is an excellent summary of Ubuntu and Mint and the interface differences between them. Most such articles take a very partisan position for...

7 hours ago by whs001 on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Moley

@ewallace. Not so clear. Anyone can obtain the text, for example from here http://www.ustr.gov/webfm_send/2379. I support ACTA so long as it and...

7 hours ago by Moley on ACTA: Facts, misconceptions and questions
45283

I think WinRT is fantastic. I just wish it was an option for people that didn't want to go through Microsoft's App Store with its attendant...

10 hours ago by 45283 on Why Windows 8 needs architectural hygiene for WOA
Burn-IT

Nine people? £30m? Who's back pocket is that lot going in? And IF they say it is for new buildings, what about all the ones the government has...

12 hours ago by Burn-IT on Police set to launch three £30m e-crime hubs
ewallace

Just to be clear, nobody knows what is in the text of ACTA, here is a photograph of the text of ACTA http://twitpic.com/8h9iju as submitted to the...

12 hours ago by ewallace on ACTA: Facts, misconceptions and questions
fgvrg56

Unfortunately main issue is that ASUS is refusing to accept that they make some mistake on this version of asus Transformer prime. 1 - GPS sensor...

13 hours ago by fgvrg56 on Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime Wi-Fi & GPS problems?
Ben Woods

@Marcus A fair question. Just talked with Archos which said it was working on an announcement for next week....

14 hours ago by Ben Woods on Archos confirms G9 Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule
Marcus Karlsson

Any update on this, considering the claimed "first week of February"?

15 hours ago by Marcus Karlsson via Facebook on Archos confirms G9 Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule
apexwm

Bill Goodrich : Just as al_langevin pointed out, with Windows Server 2008 there is no Services for Macintosh anymore. It's gone, not available....

23 hours ago by apexwm on Windows Server 2008 drops the ball for Mac compatibility