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Script_Kiddies_II_ _An_advice_to_parents
| Script Kiddies II - An advice to parents
After the feedback on the previous article, I thought that it
would be beneficial to write another, exploring the Script
Kiddie problem in a bit more depth. If you haven't already read
the previous item "Script Kiddies - Vermin of the Internet", it
may be a good idea to peruse that first to give you some
background.
Over the years, I have witnessed a great number of strange
things occur on computers. Some incidences are simply PEBCAK
problems (Problem Exists Between Chair and Keyboard - user
error), hardware failure or, for want of a better term, "system
brainfarts" - no identifiable cause.
But other occurrences are more sinister.
I remember one client reporting that her teenage daughter had
been in an online chat room that night when suddenly the
computer's CD-ROM tray began opening and closing of its own
volition.
In the address bar of Internet Explorer a message was slowly
typed out. It read, "You are dead!"
You can imagine the effect that this experience had on the 14
year old girl in question. This incident was more than likely a
Script Kiddie attack, utilising a Trojan that was installed on
the computer.
So how did this Trojan end up on the system? It was brought home
from school on a disk, hidden in a program. This may have been
deliberate as the school in question had a number of Script
Kiddies in attendance. I became used to hearing their names
mentioned.
Schools, along with the Internet, government departments and the
workplace, are incredible sources of Trojan infestations. The
kids constantly swap programs, and in their rush to install them
will fail to scan properly. If your virus scanner is configured
to be running all the time, this isn't such a problem. But for
people with low-powered systems, 24/7 virus scanning really
slows their computer down.
When out on the Internet, kids also have a tendency to reveal a
great deal of information about themselves. The Internet is not
a play-ground or a baby-sitter. It is a tool, akin to a
chainsaw. Like a chainsaw, it can benefit or destroy.
And that brings me to the next point. Script Kiddies tend to be
teenagers, still living at home. Unfortunately, there are also a
number of "adults" who engage in the practice (that's all the
more reason to label them "Script Kiddies"...immature and
unthinking).
It's been my experience through my business that the family
computer tends to be a breeding ground for all kinds of
software. I have heard the startled comment, "how did that get
on there?" many many times when attending to ailing systems.
Not only might there be Trojans lurking on your system (this is
easily fixed with the use of a good virus scanner), there may be
the other end of the spectrum - the software that is used to
illegally access other machines. These programs are not illegal,
network administrators find them of great value in
troubleshooting their systems. A number of these tools are free
and easily accessible.
.............Do you know what software is installed on your
computer?
I was going to publish some of the names of these programs, but
thought twice as the information may actually prompt the birth
of yet another "Script Kiddie"
If you would like a list of some of the popular programs
utilised to carry out this practice, please email me. I am
currently compiling a list of these programs along with
instructions on how to detect them. I can guarantee you that you
probably won't find them under the Start/Programs menu!
If your kids are engaged in this type of activity, it may be
that they just need some information. They may not be fully
aware of the damage they can cause, or of the legal implications
to themselves and to you. As a parent, in most countries, you
can be prosecuted for the illegal activities of your children.
Script Kiddie tracing is becoming more refined as the problem
increases.
Once again, while I have been drafting this article, port number
12345 has been "probed" a total of 5 times on my
computer.....somebody's bored..... There are ways to "nuke" the
person/s doing it, but as my more experienced associates inform
me, this only lets the person know I am here. It's better off
just reporting the infringement to the originating ISP - a
subject for another article.
Michael Bloch michael@tamingthebeast.net
http://www.tamingthebeast.net Tutorials, web content and tools,
software and community. Web Marketing, eCommerce & Development
solutions. _____________________________________________
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About the author:
Michael is an Australian Information Technologies trainer and
web developer. Many other free web design, ecommerce development
and Internet articles, tutorials, tools and resources are
available from his award winning site; Taming the Beast.net
(http://www.tamingthebeast.net)
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