Anonymous

Texas

Security Analyst

The script-kiddie phenomenon is increasingly more frequently seen in the modern network as the complexity, capability, and utility of downloadable hacking/cracking tools become more robust. Bandwidth concerns do arise when zombied hordes of compromised systems are turned on one-another, though this is a small amount of the total data abuse present on the network today.

The greatest undersirable consumer of bandwidth is the tremendous volume of SPAM emails which are continually hammering the entire network. When you consider the active content, images, and other data-hogging aspects of most of these intrusive e-mails, it is easy to see why our networks are choked and staggering.

Protection of your system involves regular maintenance of security updates to minimize the ability of hackers to exploit a weakness and take control, obtaining anti-virus software and regularly updating the viral definitions used to detect intrusive programs, regular review of system activity and events logs in order to watch for compromise attemtps or undesirable programmatic elements, to close off or otherwise isolate systems using firewalls and NAT devices which are readily available and relatively inexpensive, and to never open unexpected file attachments received by e-mail, instant messaging, or 'offered' as a 'free download' when you browse the web.

If you want to open up the network itself to better performance, make sure your legislators know you do NOT want to receive SPAM email.