Hackers learn to attack networks with IM - silicon.com

On further reading:

Combining the open-source tool nmap - a program that discovers devices on a network - with an IM bot, hackers can infiltrate, steal information and carry out denial-of-service attacks on networks, says the director of security for Whitehat UK, Jason Hart.

IM runs over port 80, which is often regarded as a trusted port because internet traffic travels through it. Nmap uses ping requests and port scans to discover network devices.

Hart said: "The bot could send itself to 10,000 addresses, which could then attack one IP address. This means that 'denial-of-service attack' has taken on a whole new meaning. What's worrying is that this would look internal."

If instructed, the nmap bot is capable of a DoS attack by sending a massive amount of pings, a term hackers have dubbed 'the ping of death'.




Hackers learn to attack networks with IM - silicon.com