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Originally Posted by Richard M
It's not a DOS attack, it only requests web pages and the moment the site starts responding slowly the software will back off.
You've obviously never seen a real DDOS, it's constant and can do real damage.
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It is a Denial of Service attack. They are using a network of PCs to attack the Spammer's computers, thus slowing the computers. Just because the screen saver backs off after a while doesn't mean it's any less of a DOS. BTW, I have seen a real DOS...
I personally think Spammers are **** and should be treated with nothing but scorn, but I think people should bear a few things in mind:
1) You may be DOSing an innocent person's machine. Spammers are increasingly using Botnets (networks of trojan-infected PCs). After all, how would any of us feel if this screensaver DOSed our machines? It's also possible that you could be DOSing a machine that does something important.
2) Whether legal or not, I believe most ISPs have a clause in their Acceptable Use Policy that spefically bans attacks like this. I haven't got time to look for it, but I am certain NTL does..
3) Who's to say the Spammers won't just get a new IP then start again? Thus rendering any blacklists invalid. At least if the user blocks Spam, the Spammers don't know (and probably don't care) they are doing it.
In the meantime, if this scheme takes off, the increased network traffic will slow the internet down for a lot of people (even if it is only very slightly).