Sudden spike of Tor users likely caused by one “massive” botnet
35 replies, posted
[img]http://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/tor-usage-640x401.jpg[/img]
[quote]Researchers have found a new theory to explain the sudden spike in computers using the Tor anonymity network: a massive botnet that was recently updated to use Tor to communicate with its mothership.[/quote]
[quote][b]"The botnet appears to be massive in size as well as very widespread,"[/b] a Fox-IT researcher wrote in a blog post published Thursday. "Even prior to the switch to Tor, [b]it consisted of tens of thousands of confirmed infections within a limited amount of networks. When these numbers are extrapolated on a per country and global scale, these are definitely in the same ballpark as the Tor users increase."[/b][/quote]
[url]http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/09/sudden-spike-of-tor-users-likely-caused-by-one-massive-botnet/[/url]
I, for one, welcome our new megabot overlords.
What a clever way to run a botnet, by using TOR to call back to yourself. That's so ingeniously simple (an idea, that is. probably tricky in practice.)
You thought it was real for a second didn't you Bioware
This is why we can't have nice things.
Maybe I'm just not nerd enough, but I'm not sure I understand the appeal of "the dark web" and TOR for the average internet user. Curiosity might compel you to check it out, but what is there to keep you returning? It seems like it's almost entirely abandoned websites and databases full of old useless info, with a large presence of disturbing illegal content and cyber-threats, like advanced viruses and malware and hackers and junk like that. What isn't actively dangerous or deeply disturbing is either extremely mundane or readily available on the regular internet as well. There aren't many practical uses I can think of, excepting the possibility of trading for harmless black market shit or bypassing oppressive content filters in a developing nation.
Botnets scare me.
[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;42088032]Maybe I'm just not nerd enough, but I'm not sure I understand the appeal of "the dark web" and TOR for the average internet user. Curiosity might compel you to check it out, but what is there to keep you returning? It seems like it's almost entirely abandoned websites and databases full of old useless info, with a large presence of disturbing illegal content and cyber-threats, like advanced viruses and malware and hackers and junk like that. What isn't actively dangerous or deeply disturbing is either extremely mundane or readily available on the regular internet as well. There aren't many practical uses I can think of, excepting the possibility of trading for harmless black market shit or bypassing oppressive content filters in a developing nation.[/QUOTE]
There are some alright e-book libraries, but most people I know that use it are using it to buy drugs more than anything else.
[QUOTE=Alxnotorious;42088033]Botnets scare me.[/QUOTE]
i shouldnt tell how how easy it it to rent one then
[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;42088032]Maybe I'm just not nerd enough, but I'm not sure I understand the appeal of "the dark web" and TOR for the average internet user. Curiosity might compel you to check it out, but what is there to keep you returning? It seems like it's almost entirely abandoned websites and databases full of old useless info, with a large presence of disturbing illegal content and cyber-threats, like advanced viruses and malware and hackers and junk like that. What isn't actively dangerous or deeply disturbing is either extremely mundane or readily available on the regular internet as well. There aren't many practical uses I can think of, excepting the possibility of trading for harmless black market shit or bypassing oppressive content filters in a developing nation.[/QUOTE]
You're pretty much right. Unless you're in the kind of country that necessitates the use of TOR to get through filters or you're looking for drugs and child pornography it's pointless to bother going.
[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;42088032]Maybe I'm just not nerd enough, but I'm not sure I understand the appeal of "the dark web" and TOR for the average internet user. Curiosity might compel you to check it out, but what is there to keep you returning? It seems like it's almost entirely abandoned websites and databases full of old useless info, with a large presence of disturbing illegal content and cyber-threats, like advanced viruses and malware and hackers and junk like that. What isn't actively dangerous or deeply disturbing is either extremely mundane or readily available on the regular internet as well. There aren't many practical uses I can think of, excepting the possibility of trading for harmless black market shit or bypassing oppressive content filters in a developing nation.[/QUOTE]
I think there's something a bit poetic about being in a place where pretty much nobody can ever figure out who you really are and what you are doing there, even if you aren't doing anything particularly shady.
[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;42088032]Maybe I'm just not nerd enough, but I'm not sure I understand the appeal of "the dark web" and TOR for the average internet user. Curiosity might compel you to check it out, but what is there to keep you returning? It seems like it's almost entirely abandoned websites and databases full of old useless info, with a large presence of disturbing illegal content and cyber-threats, like advanced viruses and malware and hackers and junk like that. What isn't actively dangerous or deeply disturbing is either extremely mundane or readily available on the regular internet as well. There aren't many practical uses I can think of, excepting the possibility of trading for harmless black market shit or bypassing oppressive content filters in a developing nation.[/QUOTE]I'd imagine it'd be useful if you live in a country with a firewall designed to block anti-government stuff like China (and perhaps North Korea, though their solution is simply to only allow people access to a national intranet not connected at all to the wider Internet)
Isn't it a bit fishy that this happens right after some unheard of office in Virginia planted a bug on like 50% of TOR only sites? Google freedom hosting
[editline]5th September 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=Mike Tyson;42088086]i shouldnt tell how how easy it it to rent one then[/QUOTE]
$5 for 6 months usage of one iirc :downs:
You don't have to be doing anything outwardly illegal to appreciate privacy.
"You should have nothing to hide" is such a shitty argument.
[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;42088032]Maybe I'm just not nerd enough, but I'm not sure I understand the appeal of "the dark web" and TOR for the average internet user. Curiosity might compel you to check it out, but what is there to keep you returning? It seems like it's almost entirely abandoned websites and databases full of old useless info, with a large presence of disturbing illegal content and cyber-threats, like advanced viruses and malware and hackers and junk like that. What isn't actively dangerous or deeply disturbing is either extremely mundane or readily available on the regular internet as well. There aren't many practical uses I can think of, excepting the possibility of trading for harmless black market shit or bypassing oppressive content filters in a developing nation.[/QUOTE]
Hey man, you know how hard it is to find a professional hit-man through physical social interaction? [I]"Can you do a whack job for me?"[/I] isn't the best way to break the ice with someone, and they'll probably think you mean something more mundane to boot.
[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;42088032]Maybe I'm just not nerd enough, but I'm not sure I understand the appeal of "the dark web" and TOR for the average internet user. Curiosity might compel you to check it out, but what is there to keep you returning? It seems like it's almost entirely abandoned websites and databases full of old useless info, with a large presence of disturbing illegal content and cyber-threats, like advanced viruses and malware and hackers and junk like that. What isn't actively dangerous or deeply disturbing is either extremely mundane or readily available on the regular internet as well. There aren't many practical uses I can think of, excepting the possibility of trading for harmless black market shit or bypassing oppressive content filters in a developing nation.[/QUOTE]
Pedophiles.
I hope they're at least configured as inside-Tor relays.
Silkroad
[QUOTE=dedo678;42089187]Pedophiles.[/QUOTE]
People who have figured out how to make bank.
[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;42088032]Maybe I'm just not nerd enough, but I'm not sure I understand the appeal of "the dark web" and TOR for the average internet user. Curiosity might compel you to check it out, but what is there to keep you returning? It seems like it's almost entirely abandoned websites and databases full of old useless info, with a large presence of disturbing illegal content and cyber-threats, like advanced viruses and malware and hackers and junk like that. What isn't actively dangerous or deeply disturbing is either extremely mundane or readily available on the regular internet as well. There aren't many practical uses I can think of, excepting the possibility of trading for harmless black market shit or bypassing oppressive content filters in a developing nation.[/QUOTE]
There's a difference between "the dark web" and using TOR. The dark web generally requires a series of executables/passwords/etc. to gain access to the sort of content that is not legal to be hosted on the world wide web (child pornography, drug trade, etc.). TOR just masks your trace on the internet, so people (like ISPs who may not appreciate illegal downloading very much) can't see what you're doing. That could mean anything from ISPs to websites that inject cookies to track your browsing history to try to collect data on you that you may want to keep private.
There are plenty of uses for the average internet user who [i]cares[/i] about their privacy or wants to avoid attention from their ISP, employers, or online businesses/organizations trying to track them for purposes of data collection and etc.
[editline]5th September 2013[/editline]
Note I am not an internet expert and do not fully understand a lot of the hoo-ha, but I have an interest in it and know a little bit, just not very much. So if I'm off-base with anything I say, forgive me for my misjudgments.
[QUOTE=imptastick;42088084]There are some alright e-book libraries, but most people I know that use it are using it to buy drugs more than anything else.[/QUOTE]
just use #bookz
[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;42088032]Maybe I'm just not nerd enough, but I'm not sure I understand the appeal of "the dark web" and TOR for the average internet user. Curiosity might compel you to check it out, but what is there to keep you returning? It seems like it's almost entirely abandoned websites and databases full of old useless info, with a large presence of disturbing illegal content and cyber-threats, like advanced viruses and malware and hackers and junk like that. What isn't actively dangerous or deeply disturbing is either extremely mundane or readily available on the regular internet as well. There aren't many practical uses I can think of, excepting the possibility of trading for harmless black market shit or bypassing oppressive content filters in a developing nation.[/QUOTE]
As off-putting as it may seem, it's a pretty effective way of reducing the chances of you getting caught doing something you're not supposed to, whatever that may be. It doesn't make you invincible, but it's a big step in the right direction, especially compared to conducting such business on the open web directly with your own personal hardware, which is much easier to track down. For example, IIRC the beginning of the death of lulzsec was because one member forgot to use their proxy/tor setup or whatever they were running, just for a night, which was enough for him to be located and used to out the rest of the group.
Then there's the legitimate uses, like addressing privacy concerns, etc. There's a certain appeal to being able to effectively put a new type of layer in the world of networking that provides for the ability to browse the internet as a truly anonymous, unidentifiable user and being able to sidestep any politics or bureaucracy or unethical business practices, it's just that people who aren't aware of how un-anonymous the internet has become don't see that benefit because they think they already have it.
[QUOTE=GhostG45;42090149][B]There's a difference between "the dark web" and using TOR.[/B] The dark web generally requires a series of executables/passwords/etc. to gain access to the sort of content that is not legal to be hosted on the world wide web (child pornography, drug trade, etc.). TOR just masks your trace on the internet, so people (like ISPs who may not appreciate illegal downloading very much) can't see what you're doing. That could mean anything from ISPs to websites that inject cookies to track your browsing history to try to collect data on you that you may want to keep private.
There are plenty of uses for the average internet user who [i]cares[/i] about their privacy or wants to avoid attention from their ISP, employers, or online businesses/organizations trying to track them for purposes of data collection and etc.
[editline]5th September 2013[/editline]
Note I am not an internet expert and do not fully understand a lot of the hoo-ha, but I have an interest in it and know a little bit, just not very much. So if I'm off-base with anything I say, forgive me for my misjudgments.[/QUOTE]
uh what no. The "dark web" is literally just stuff not indexed by google and not directly accessible.
[editline]5th September 2013[/editline]
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Web[/url]
[QUOTE=BlkDucky;42090359]uh what no. The "dark web" is literally just stuff not indexed by google and not directly accessible.
[editline]5th September 2013[/editline]
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Web[/url][/QUOTE]
I meant "dark web" in the general association of child pornography/black market trade/correspondence of criminals and etc. Not everyone who uses TOR is involved with those activities/groups. In fact I doubt a lot of people who really are into those illegal things even use TOR primarily to help them, they probably use much lesser known programs and methods to share their connections privately across their computers.
[QUOTE=Sgt Doom;42088231]I'd imagine it'd be useful if you live in a country with a firewall designed to block anti-government stuff like China (and perhaps North Korea, though their solution is simply to only allow people access to a national intranet not connected at all to the wider Internet)[/QUOTE]
VPNs get by that. Sister used one from Boston to get around China's firewall
[QUOTE=areolop;42090489]VPNs get by that. Sister used one from Boston to get around China's firewall[/QUOTE]
Not all good VPNs are free.
[QUOTE=Amaurus;42090523]Not all good VPNs are free.[/QUOTE]
I'm sorry but the link in your title is one of the strangest things I've ever seen
[QUOTE=Amaurus;42090523]Not all good VPNs are free.[/QUOTE]
I mean, it was through the school. But it still got the job done
- snip -
[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;42088032]Maybe I'm just not nerd enough, but I'm not sure I understand the appeal of "the dark web" and TOR for the average internet user. Curiosity might compel you to check it out, but what is there to keep you returning? It seems like it's almost entirely abandoned websites and databases full of old useless info, with a large presence of disturbing illegal content and cyber-threats, like advanced viruses and malware and hackers and junk like that. What isn't actively dangerous or deeply disturbing is either extremely mundane or readily available on the regular internet as well. There aren't many practical uses I can think of, excepting the possibility of trading for harmless black market shit or bypassing oppressive content filters in a developing nation.[/QUOTE]
The internet has, and always had some interesting snips, some signal within all the noise.
Archive team highlights a lot of this.
[video=youtube;gSXwNJGoOdk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSXwNJGoOdk[/video]
dumfucks it got nothing to do with botnets.
[QUOTE]
[img]http://torrentfreak.com/images/piratebrowser.jpg[/img]
[URL="http://torrentfreak.com/pirate-bays-anti-clocks-100000-downloads-in-three-days-130813/"]Within three days of its launch more than 100,000 people have already downloaded PirateBrowser[/URL][/QUOTE]
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