Grid Attack: Related to last week's attack? and did we have ample warning?

EDIT: So I don't come off as too much of a rabble-rouser, I'd like to thank Linden Lab's staff for its hard work to restore the grid and deal with these issues. This kind of thing often goes unsaid, and deserves to be said. We're dealing with a new technology, and there's a whole lot to be worked out. Linden Lab continues to outshine other MMOs' customer support by miles. Much thanks to them.
---

What strikes me as odd with this latest attack is the fact that the objects not only tried to crash the grid, but push people as well. The behavior of these is identical to that used in an attack a week ago:

http://www.secondlifeherald.com/slh/2006/04/has_plastic_duc.html
After this attack, and I was on the scene, the same object was used, but on me alone. (Gee, could be that griefers don't like to be abuse reported and confronted.) I did report this in my abuse reports.

Now, since LL is tight-lipped on any action taken with abuse reports, I'm speculating here, but if there is a connection, it seems like a chain of events that stretch back almost a year. This leads me to ask several questions which I believe Linden Lab owes its many customers and partners to answer:

1. Is there a connection between the events?
2. What actions have been taken to end this chain of events?
3. What method of identity verification was used on the accounts for the new griefers? (credit card vs. paypal vs. phone #)
4. Why does Linden Lab still not have a "delete/freeze all objects ever created by XYZ person" command to be run in the central asset database?
5. Why does Linden Lab still not have self-diagnostic software in sims that can detect if there is an attack, report it to a central server, and if enough are failing, allow admins to choose to take decisive and immediate action? (Like the successful firewalling technique from last fall?)
6. If griefers are reported to the authorities, what is Linden Lab's objection to releasing names, since this becomes public information anyway?
7. A status check on de-centralizing asset serving?

Actually Hiro, and I got this one direct from audio from speaking with PD...He hasn't been in, around, or near SL for a long time. When The Herald ran that whole "Is PD back" bit of fabulous journalism, he got angry. Basically told us that if he were going to do something, it's be a lot "better" than griefing one little sim where the owners misset some perms. Not a day later, we have ultimate gridcrash. I feel like blaming the Herald for this one, just cuz.

Chain of events?

I was just re-reading comments in the Herald about this, and it seems there was *another* attack on the Camp Darfur build on April 13.

I don't believe that for a second, honestly. PD is a liar and a griefer. I think he, and his circle of friends, knew very well what was going on.

I wish I could name names here of what I actually saw the night Better World sim got trashed the first time, but that would start a firestorm in these forums.

Edit: Verbena, if PD has been reported to the FBI as Linden Lab alluded last year, then by talking to him, you are probably now earmarked in some folder in Washington DC.

Firestorms are fun, Hiro! I will say tho, I should know, I was sitting in the 'trillo chat listening while the whole discussion went down. Someone had griefed Better World, SLH accused Plastic of it, Plastic basically said "If they want to see real griefing I'll show it to them!" End of story, thanks yellow journalism!

Actually, it was the griefer itself who mentioned PD, while the Herald was reporting on what the griefer said.

It's clear though that these people, PD included, from their choice of attacking Camp Darfur, are racists and believe in idealogy the likes of neo-nazism.

Say, Verbena, did you, before the attack, go tell Linden Lab what Plastic Duck said, as I assume you would as a responsible resident?

Yes Hiro, I mentioned it. Fat lotto good it did, without an avatar name, timeframe, or any such good info.

I think we should make a commission to study the event, look at any memos that may have made the rounds and investigate whether or not any agencies had any knowledge that this type of attack might have occured.

Yeah, I realize.

My point is this - Linden Lab is traditionally secretive about griefer reports in the interests of privacy. In this kind of case, where someone outs themself and has purportedly already been reported to authorities, it might behoove Linden Lab to consider altering its policies to give volunteer groups "heads up" so that events can be recognized immediately, and the chance of containing an attack can go up.

Perhaps true, Hiro, but ould you imagine the griefability of such a thing.."Hay LL Plastic Duck sent me an e-mail said he was crashing the grid he said his name was Hiro Pendragon!" (example of course).


I sit like this on the issue. One, SLH goaded PD into showing his face again, after he'd pretty much quit off SL.

Two, LL needs to impliment scripting controls to keep such as this happening again.


Three. PD is not a US citizen, so nothing will happen to him.

Where I live we have a province wide privacy act, however it leaves provision to release details to those who need to know. In this case, LL is a business, and its customers have a "need to know" that the business is properly handling attacks of this nature as it effects the product and could have a financial impact on those very same customers. We don't need to know his home address, but we should be informed of things like, complaints sent to their ISP, results of that, police reports filed, etc.

I agree with some of your comments about the measures that LL *should* be taking, it does seem after every greifer gird attack that the signs were in the air at least a few days to a week previous but perhaps that is simple hindsight.

As to identifying the perpetrators and "naming names," telling us that for sure it was Plastic Duck or things of that nature, I don't see what that would do. What does it matter if it's Plastic Duck or any other avatar?

The one thing, the central thing that all grifers want is bragging rights. They do it so people talk about them and so they can puff out their silly chests and claim that they did this or that "incident" or whatever. They are the worst kind of childish little boys jumping up and down for attention.

In terms of stopping them from doing it, the best thing that could be done (although I admit this is likely impossible), is to stop a grid attack "on the sly," as it happens and never even tell the residents that such a thing was going on.

It's the drama of the grid closure and all the associated fingernail biting, arguing, and hard work that gives them the twisted pleasure of having been responsible.

So are you guys still like.. acting as if the jury is still out as to whether or not 'Jew Stein' was plastic duck or not?

Only thing that I gotta wonder is if LL has or hasn't realized that yet or not.

Which one?

Jinsar, Dianne - both good thoughts you've said.

Dianne, consider also that there is value in acknowledging if the same griefer is doing this - because it puts the spotlight on Linden Lab why the same person is allowed to do this over and over - and to provide an explanation, be it, "We've reported this to the authorities and banned IPs and there's not much more we can do." or "Well, perhaps we're not taking aggressive enough steps against this person."


Well, I think good judgement can be made about the credibility of the source, and good judgement can be made as to what things might be lies and what not.


Then the fault is mine, not Mark Wallace's. While I didn't name names of residents of SL, I did give him the quotes.

And let's face it - if PD and his friends griefer the grid last year, it's not like PD's leaving of SL is going to end those friendships. If PD's friend(s) are responsible for the current attacks, then I'm damn sure PD knew, encouraged, and probably facilitated.


Define "scripting controls". I think that a higher level sim-diagnostics is the way to go - losing a few servers is not a long thing to correct. Restricting scripters' ability to make cool stuff reduces SL's robustness.


Depends what country he's in and how bored the FBI is.

Also, the hate-crime nature of some of these attacks - attacking Camp Darfur, naming the latest griefer "Jew" - ups the stakes a bit.

Realize with Camp Darfur project, it was funded by an Internationally operating foundation with lots of money.

My personal ventrillo, Sue.

Honestly Hiro, you sound psycho. At this point, it is quite obvious that Linden Labs, the FBI, Homeland Security, Big Brother and Captain America can't or won't do anything about griefing in a video game. There have been multiple grid-wide crashes and absolutely squat has happened to any of the parties involved.

Okay, well, a firestorm there is no less a firestorm. So, no thank you.

Cant Marvel heroes help? or Pippi Långstrump maybe.. I talk to her.

Tina/ - sorry couldent stop myself...

On Better World Island we have had a series of attacks from both new and old griefers. As attention grows for the Camp Darfur campaign we had two major disruptions on April 6th and April 13th. Everything is now locked down, the Green Lanterns are watching the island and suspicious boxes are routinely removed from BWI on our patrols.

I was there for the April 13th attack. As a builder and host for Camp Darfur and ManorMeta I went to speak to a newbie who I believe was involved as an accomplice. As soon as we began to speak a second avatar appeared much above us and proceeded to move as much as he could until confronted and chased off the island. I watched the entire thing go down and reported both avatars to LL. The first avatar was later seen under a bush leaving a box.

I have not yet received any word from Linden Labs on this incident and would like to hear from them directly. As far as I know there have been no bannings or suspensions since these incidents started on BWI.

I have personally checked the profiles of three known griefers on Better World Island. All were created in the last three months yet some like the ones mentioned earlier seem to be experienced. I believe they are creating new avies regularly to use and dispose of and this will continue until tracked back to the source IP, card or phone. I wouldn't mind putting a few griefers on the run for awhile and there are a lot of frustrated people who are looking for a better solution on this.

How do you know? Are you pyschic?

Yay for thread necromancy.

5 days? ...