Got Spam? Got Distributed Networking?

[Merovingian]

http://pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,121841,00.asp

I signed up, maybe you should to!

 

[Robor]

Interesting... I hate spam. I wonder if this software would have an impact on system performance during an online game. Also wonder if using it could be a violation of your ISP's terms of service? It is in a sense a coordinated DDoS.

 

[Insidious]

I love the sentiment.......... But, I'm not sure coordinated DDoS is a valid answer to help correct the spam issue.

Basically, who gets to decide what entities get attacked. Mass mailings, spam, coordinated DDoS, etc. are all things that need to be eliminated from the www.

Good cause or not, this seems like it is just adding to the 'harmful internet traffic' issue.

-Sid

 

[Spacehead]

Good points Sid.
The Lycos attempt didn't last long. I wonder if there's any difference between Lycos's way & this newest try?

 

[Merovingian]

I run the software and it's send out data about every 30 sec. I think the law about ddos attacks have to do with how often you hit a site from a perticular IP every 30 sec certainly does not constitute an attack. Which is where this comes in. In anycase the bandwidth that it uses is not noticeable with broadband.

 

[DanC]

This topic has been broached in the past, and as I recall, the consensus of opinion is that its spirit violates what we're trying (as a general rule) to do with regard to distributed computing.

What troubles me specifially, is that a number of states (Georgia comes to mind as one) have written poorly-drafted draconian laws with regard to computer "security" crafted by idiots, that make things like this patently illegal. Never mind that its intent is good... most of the time - prosecutors simply look for something they can hang someone with... it has very little to do with "justice" nor with anyone having actually been harmed.

If in doubt... do a google search on "David McOwen".

 

[BadThad]

There was something similar awhile back, wasn't like Yahoo Europe that had software that would DDoS spammers? It's an interestnig concept.

 

[imported_Kensai]

This is intresting.