Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2000 18:43:23 -0600 From: Brett Glass <brett@lariat.org> To: Wes Peters <wes@softweyr.com> Cc: freebsd-security@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: The Flame Blame Game Message-ID: <4.3.2.7.2.20000715183431.04e2a580@localhost> In-Reply-To: <3970DF32.6D988E56@softweyr.com> References: <Pine.LNX.4.21.0007150356230.24791-100000@jason.argos.org>
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At 04:01 PM 7/15/2000, Wes Peters wrote: >Yes, it seems that the BrettGlass attack is an "amplifying reflector", >like the multicast TCP ACK in the Stream attack. Since we can't quench >the source, it seems that rate-limiting the replies is the most effective >protection. Actually, the problem is simpler: Certain people seem to be engaging in what I call the "Flame Blame Game." Here's how it works: 1) Wait for the target to post an opinion in an online forum. 2) Turn the topic (even if it is legitimate) into an irritating flame war that wastes time and bandwidth. Drown out any VALID remarks, regardless of the source, with annoying flames. 3) Blame the flame war on the target and encourage others to see him or her as a troublemaker, filter his or her messages, and/or eject him or her from the list. The target is in a tough spot. If he does NOT respond to the nasty messages posted by the flamer(s), then the flamers have effectively silenced him. If he DOES respond, he's seen as fanning the flames. Either way, blame is laid on him rather than upon the guilty parties -- UNLESS people see through the ruse. I've seen this happen to other folks, on other lists, and apparently the meme has spread. --Brett To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-security" in the body of the message
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