Abuse and Network Security
What is Internet Abuse?
There are several types of Internet abuse, which can be placed into 2 main groups which are defined below.
Network Abuse
This type of abuse is identified by:
- An attempt to gain unauthorized access to a network node
- A network node is defined as any component of a network, such as a computer, server, router, or switch, among other devices.
- An attempt to prevent normal traffic to flow in or out of a network or network node. a.k.a. a Denial of Service attack - (DOS attack)
- Types of DOS attacks include but are not limited to:
- Ping attacks
- Broadcast storms, TCP, UDP or any other protocol.
- An attempt to infect a network node with a virus, worm, or other harmful payload.
- An attempt to scan a network or network node without authorization or administrative authority.
- A scan is successive pings or probes to ranges of IP ports or IP addresses.
Administrative authority is defined as a known Network Administrator of a network which has initiated a scan or probe of their assigned network to prevent, resolve, or isolate known or potential issues affecting their network. Example: If the Internet team pinged all of the IP addresses assigned to a given customer. EMBARQ maintains authority for all of the IP networks that it provides to downstream customers.
E-mail Abuse - a.k.a. SPAM
E-mail has become a common way of communicating to coworkers, business partners, suppliers, customers, and the list continues. E-mail has virtually no cost to the user, so sending one e-mail seems no different than sending 1000 e-mails. Here is where some people take advantage of the system and send 1000's or millions of e-mails a day. Most of these e-mail are selling a product (UCE), showing you how to make $5000 in an afternoon (MMF), wanting you to join their company and recruit other members and get commissions from your recruits (MLM). When the same message is sent out to a list of 10 or more people this is what is called Bulk e-mail.
- UCE - Unsolicited Commercial E-mail
- UBE - Unsolicited Bulk E-mail
- MLM - Multi-Level Marketing
- MMF - Make Money Fast
Are there laws against Internet Abuse?
Many states have enacted there own laws, which some of them are listed below. At this time the United States Federal Government has not enacted any laws regarding Internet abuse. The site SPAMLAWS Provides a resource for SPAM related legislation pending or made into law. You can find information for the United States, European Union, and other countries.
Where can I find information to help me stop abuse issues?
Spam Resources:
Network Security Resources:
