Hacker contest starts today

According to Wired.com's reuters report the hack attacks due to destroy the internet didn't even come close. Reuters reports that only a few unsecured websites were defaced by the attacks, and no brand name major websites were defaced. The challenge site http://www.defacers-challenge.com/ appears to have used Zone-H an independant "Internet Thermometer" site. Writers for Zone - H note "Nothing would have happened, if only the media didn't pay so much attention turning a non-case into something useful to fill the empty summer newspapers. The hype turned so much high, that the same cracker panorama started to broke apart about participating to the challenge."

This of couse is no suprise to me, the unverified list of Hacked sites includes sites such as techtv.com which leads me to believe that the list is more of a crackers wish list then any form of actuall reality. It seems the only attack that's truely affecting any one is the extra traffic that generated by media hype targeted at Zone - H.

The Internet Security Systems' X-Force unit has sounded an alarm for an increase in hacker activity between July 6-7 to coincide with a contest encouraging defacements of Web sites around the world.

In case you haven't already heard, hacker activity is supposedly on the rise. All of these alerts and concerns seem to stem from a single “Hacker Contest” from an undisclosed internet location.

In truth – I believe there is no contest, this is just anouther way for the media and corporate america to work together to sell more security related products. Truth be told, this website is scanned for vulnerabilities many times each day just like most other sites on the internet, nothing seperates this day from any other day in my mind. So what's my point? Hackers , crackers, and would be pranksters are always scanning looking for sites to deface – if your site isn't secure it's only a matter of time before some one breaks in and defaces it.

So what do you need to buy to secure your site? Nothing – all you need invest is time.

Make sure you've changed all default passwords (Passwords with numbers and special charecters are best as they take longer to crack)

Install all security related updates having to do with the software you run your website from. If you're running microsofts internet information server disable any unused extensions that you won't be using (and check for updates daily).

It's also helpful to log incomming traffic this would help trace a would be defacer.

If you're really paranoid an you run your own webserver you might think of installing a nat firewall, or possibly even intrusion detection software.

Last but not least – BACK UP YOUR SITE. Their's no telling when you're service providers hardware will fail when hackers will attack, or nuclear fallout will occur, backups are the single most important thing you can do.