Boing Boing Founder Warns of "Internet AIDS" 154
An anonymous reader writes "Cory Doctorow, founder of Boing Boing, says he doesn't have a problem in principle with the automated network defense systems that guard the Internet against malware, spamigation bots, and other network nasties. However, in his article 'The Future of Internet Immune Systems,' he bemoans the problems caused by 'Internet autoimmune disorder' — where the network defenses designed to block network attacks are automated and instantaneous, but the systems in place to reverse erroneous lockdowns are manual and unresponsive."
automation is only one-way (Score:4, Insightful)
Automatic Forgiveness in Autonomic Systems... (Score:5, Insightful)
EG, in a scan detector, forgive 1 scan per minute/hour and eventually release the block. This saves a call to tech support, and papers over a lot of sins when building an automatic system.
Auto-immune != immuno-deficient (Score:5, Insightful)
The summary title is stupid.
AIDS is not auto-immune; it is immuno-deficient. The FA doesn't mention AIDS. Try this [wikipedia.org].
Bunch of cash (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:This already exists (Score:5, Insightful)
These various Spam Blocking Lists (or SBLs) are almost all automated. A few of them let you push a button and get removed. However some of them require manually emailing an explanation and still others try to extort money from you to speed up the unblocking process. We didn't even send any spam. The previous owners of the IP did.
If this isn't a strong argument that blacklisting systems are unethical, I don't know what is. Imagine being targeted by vigilantes because you bought a house which was previously occupied by a sex offender and so the addreess is listed on the local sex offender registry. That's essentially what's happening here.
There is no such thing as an "evil IP address" any more than there is an "evil house." These systems are technically, logically, as well as ethically flawed. Anybody who buys into blacklist-based technology is a reactionary and a bigot.
Blacklists (Score:2, Insightful)
There is no such thing as an "evil IP address" any more than there is an "evil house." These systems are technically, logically, as well as ethically flawed. Anybody who buys into blacklist-based technology is a reactionary and a bigot.
And you're a poopy-head!
If you're getting hammered with DoS attacks, spam, interweb herpaids or whatever TFA is about, you block the source. Blocking an IP address has nothing to do with some irrational fear of 32-bit numbers - it blocks the person using that number from destroying your network.
I hope you don't use a firewall or have a router, you bigot.
Re:This already exists (Score:4, Insightful)
Let's pretend I agree that SBL's are immoral, I'd gladly take the hit to my moral standing if it means the (even less moral) spammers can't get as much of their crap to my inbox.
No one sane has ever said that block lists are the ultimate solution for the fight against spam, it is a very useful and very effective supplement to other measures. If something better comes along, I'd gladly use it.
If you don't like block lists, don't use them.
Re:Blacklists (Score:2, Insightful)
Blame the man who let his PC get infected; not the poor server op who has to deal with the attacks.
Besides, I don't know of any systems that keep individual IPs permanently blocked; the perma-bans seem reserved for troubled subnets. Very rarely does an entire network change hands; and TFA is complaining not about permanence, but that manual response is "too slow."
Re:Blacklists (Score:3, Insightful)
If you're getting hammered with DoS attacks, spam, interweb herpaids or whatever TFA is about, you block the source. Blocking an IP address has nothing to do with some irrational fear of 32-bit numbers - it blocks the person using that number from destroying your network.
Key point being the word "your" in "your network." Do whatever the hell you want on your own network. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about ISPs who take it upon themselves to filter the email to their own users based on criteria the users have no say over and probably zero knowledge of. Yes, it's a free market, blah blah blah. Let's see how you like changing providers every couple of months because they start using RBL. I take it you've never been on the losing end of an RBL -- I have. I couldn't email several important people because their ISPs started using various RBLs. So I'm in the same net block with a thousand other people, one of whom is maybe a spammer, therefore *I* have to change providers? Fuck you very much.
AIDS? (Score:5, Insightful)
Spam is email that forces itself upon me -- that can be "Internet rape."
What Comcast is doing to bittorrent traffic: "Internet genocide."
And the projected brownouts as described by that other article on the front page right now: "Internet Alzheimer's."
These attention-grabbing headlines are so accurate and informative!
Glad someone spotted this (Score:3, Insightful)
Auto-immune means that the body's immune system starts to attack itself, a condition which is largely incompatible with the one mentioned. AIDS deals with the destruction of the immune system by outside causes (whatever they may be). Autoimmune diseases cover the body's own immune system going haywire and destroying the body.
Analogy: AIDS is a demolition crew, Auto-immune is "Extreme Makover: Home Improvement" where the jacuzzi ends up cooking the family.