• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • Comment Rules
  • Privacy Policy

Tikun Olam תיקון עולם

Promoting Israeli democracy, exposing secrets of the national security state

You are here: Home / Mideast Peace / Denial of Service Attack

Denial of Service Attack

May 10, 2010 by Richard Silverstein 9 Comments

Share this:

On Sunday, many of you noticed that you could not publish comments at this site.  Others of you may’ve noticed you could not access the main page.  I noticed yesterday night that instead of the normal site traffic I receive for a Sunday, that I’d received 10 times that amount and over three times the amount this site has ever received.  I asked my web host whether it was possible that I’d experienced a Denial of Service attack.  The security staff replied that it was a distinct possibility.

The reason I thought this possible is that my blog was mentioned in a Yediot article yesterday and credited with breaking the gag order against reporting the arrests of Ameer Makhoul and Said Omer.  Yediot has many extreme right wing readers (you can likely read lots of hate in the Talkback for that article directed against me–I don’t read them myself).  Also, I’ve received a slurry of hostile blog comments likely originating from readers of Yediot.  Given that as many as 20,000 of the hits from yesterday may’ve happened in a short period of time, I thought it likely it could be a DOS attack.

This means that this blog has become a target of the Israeli far-right and its Diaspora supporters.  It means that they perceive we can damage their political values and agenda.  I also note in the Facebook group I created there are now lots of trolls including one individual who’s registered using the same IP address and four separate identities.  They’re trying to game the system to their advantage.  The question for me is whether this is a formal and official campaign against our work from security or government sources (Mossad, MFA, etc.) or rather a shotgun effort by the hasbara-Giyus-settler brigades.

I have put in place new defenses to protect against future attacks and will explore additional measures I can take.  If anyone out there has professional experience in this field, please be in touch.  I’d very much like to be able to trace forensically any future attempts to do mischief.

UPDATE: I’ve consulted with another party having some expertise in the field about the circumstances of this incident and he believes it’s possible that mentions in Haaretz and Yediot could’ve generated such a large volume of traffic.  I’m doubtful since even a mention in the N.Y. Times during the Kamm case generated no more than about 100 hits if that.  You just don’t know.

Related articles by Zemanta
  • Gag order partly lifted: Makhoul and Said suspected of espionage, contact with Hezbollah agent (promisedlandblog.com)
  • Shin Beit continues to make citizens disappear: activist Ameer Makhoul arrested; Israeli media not allowed to report (promisedlandblog.com)
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Related

Filed Under: Mideast Peace, Technology-Security Tagged With: Ameer Makhoul, facebook, Gag order, mossad, yediot-achronot

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  Subscribe  
newest oldest most voted
Notify of
uncle joe mccarthy

richard,

unless you host your own server, your host should be the one in charge security

as for your facebook page, i wasnt aware that facebook allows page owners to see the ip addys of users…

is it possible that because your site was linked to the news report that is what caused the issue of the increased traffic?

usually dos attacks show traffic at much higher rates than just 10x…it goes into the thousands

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
May 10, 2010 1:18 PM
Richard Silverstein

I don’t know what you mean by “in charge of security.” If you mean that they should be responsible for protecting my site frm DOS attacks, not sure they feel that way. They’ve been willing to take some measures, but I don’t think they want to expend enormous amts of energy on this. They mostly want me to protect my own site so they don’t have to do it for me.

i wasnt aware that facebook allows page owners to see the ip addys of users

This was based on info another member provided which I now believe she was prob. wrong about.

is it possible that because your site was linked to the news report that is what caused the issue of the increased traffic?

There was no link. Just the name of the blog. Though perhaps some nasty folks in the Talkbacks may’ve offered the link (I don’t know). But even w. that I’ve never gotten anywhere near 22,000 hits in a day before.

usually dos attacks show traffic at much higher rates than just 10x…it goes into the thousands

I’d guess that 20,000 hits within a minute or 2 directed at a single pg. might put a lot of stress on a server. I’m no expert but I’d guess I’m prob right.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
May 10, 2010 6:16 PM
Kalea

If this was an attack, I would interpret it this way: you must be doing something right! Shin Bet is getting desperate and worried.

The IDF’s hasbara regiment is on the web and they’re trying to silence in more ways than one: propaganda spin, the anti-Semitic label, virus attacks and perhaps even DoS attacks.

Don’t give up and don’t give in, no matter what. This is too important. This injustice cannot continue.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
May 10, 2010 6:11 PM
Assaf

That’s a nice way for self-aggrandizement, assuming the evil forces are afraid and sending their storm-troopers.

Or it could be some dumb and violent script-kiddies whose idea of dialog would be shouting (IRL) and attacking the site (on-line). Israeli sites suffer break-ins and defacement regularly by self-appointed “friends of Palestinian cause”.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
May 10, 2010 6:34 PM
Ilene

A thug published your address and phone number in the talbacks at JPost this weekend. Please take extra care Richard.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
May 10, 2010 8:06 PM
Richard Silverstein

Please send me the link to the article &/or comment asap.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
May 11, 2010 12:14 AM
Jeanne

I am always aware of the threats you face, Richard, for your mission to speak truth to power.

Thank you for your dedication to expose Israeli policies that are so harmful to the US, Israel and the Palestinians.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
May 11, 2010 7:26 AM
Assaf

Wait, you’re talking about the supposed DOS attack?

If so then – exaggerating much? I don’t see much of a “threat” (site might be down for a while) by the “power” (most probably some pimpled kids running a script from their parents’ basements).

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
May 11, 2010 11:37 AM
ron

the server on which your blog is hosted usually serves hundreds or more of other blogers, so DoS attack on one affects all others, and can easily be captured by the hosts monitoring tools. however, there are varieties of DoS attacks, some of them are indirect, like DNS poisoning , redirection etc e.g. one can possibly make DNS servers to redirect richardsilverstein queries to non existing server.
drop me a note next time it happen & i’ll have a look.
i’m afraid there is nothing much to do with FB.

Vote Up0Vote Down  Reply
May 14, 2010 11:31 PM
wpdiscuz   wpDiscuz
  • Bibi Netanyahu (Steve Bell)
  • Neyestani: Leaders to war, followers to peace
  • neyestani bibi-ahmadinejad
    Neyestani: Lower life forms of Middle East
  • Neyestani: Netanyahu in Gaza
  • Gee's Bend African-American quilt
  • Gee's Bend quilt
  • Gee's Bend quilt
  • Gee's Bend quilt, Ana Mae Young
  • Palestinian Refugee, 1948
  • Nakba: grandaughter and grandfather
  • historical Jerusalem map
  • Neve Shalom, Dove of Peace
  • Jerusalem Hope, Palestine Poster Collection
  • Offering Reconciliation, Parent's Circle exhibition
  • Mohammed Said Kalash bowl, Offering Reconciliation, Parent's Circle
  • Tsilya Aguf, Ukraine 1930s (Centropa)
  • Shushan Machzor (New York Public Library)
  • Haggadah, 14th century
  • Sarajevo Haggadah
  • Sarajevo Haggadah, Mah Nishtanah
  • Ketubah, Iran
  • Israel-Palestine Dove (Avi Katz)
  • Pinchas and Jamila (Avi Katz)
  • avi katz fired
    Animal Farm parody (artist: Avi Katz)
  • Bibi Netanyahu (Vanity Fair)
  • Naftali Bennett, Lebanon war criminal
  • Sabra Hulk (Mysh )
  • Adelson with Israeli Tembel ( Mysh)
  • A Problem of Self Image (Mysh )
  • Kol Isha 'Two Birds'
  • "Promises," Israeli & Palestinian Boy
  • menachem froman
    Rabbi Menachem Froman z"l (Rina Castelnuovo)
  • Rabbi Menachem Froman & Imam
  • Great Day on Eldrige Street, Klezmer musicians
  • Eldridge Street Shul
  • Yale Strom, Klezmer-Eldridge Street shul
  • Brundibar set, Maurice Sendak
  • Besa Albanian-Muslim Righteous Gentile (Norman Gershman)
  • Daniel Barenboim, West-Eastern Diwan Orchestra
  • Hebron Palestinian in IDF gunsight (Breaking the Silence)
  • Banksy revolutionary flower thrower
  • delegitimize occupation
    Delegitimize Occupation (Michael Levin-Richard Silverstein)
  • Archipelago of Palestine
  • Bedouin: I am Invisible
  • East Jerusalem shouk
  • dolls of palestine
    YWCA Dolls of Palestine
  • Fabric of Our Lives, YWCA of Palestine
  • Fabric of Our Lives Project, YWCA of Palesstine
  • Palestine
  • Palestinian embroidery, Bethlehem
  • palestinian quilt
    Palestinian child's quilt
  • Palestinian embroidery
  • Bethelehem embroidery
    Palestinian embroidery, Bethlehem
  • Balian Armenian ceramics, Olive Tree
  • Marie Balian, Armenian ceramics
  • Jerusalem pottery, 1972
  • Balian ceramics, East Jerusalem
  • Balian ceramics, East Jerusalem
  • Mosque ceiling, Iran
  • Mosque ceiling, Iran
  • Mosque ceiling, Qom Iran
  • Vakil mosque, Shiraz
  • Nasir al Mulik Pink mosque
  • Seyyed Mosque, Isfahan
  • Mosque ceiling, Iran
  • Aliqapu Palace, Isfahan (photo: M. Ganji)
  • Sheikh Lutfollah Mosque, Isfahan
  • Vank Cathedral, Isfahan (photo: M. Ganji)
  • Golestan Palace, Tehran (photo: M. Ganji)
  • Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, Shiraz (photo: M. Ganji)
  • Tabātabāei House, Kashan (photo: M. Ganji)
  • Borujerdi Kouse, Kashan (photo: M. Ganji)
  • Chehel Sotoun Palace, Isfahan (photo: M. Ganji)
  • Timche-Ye Amin Od-Dowleh, Kashan (photo: M. Ganji)
  • 12th century quran
    12th century Qur'an (Iraq)
  • Bellevue skyline with Cascades
  • Pacific Crest Trail near Stevens Pass
  • Washington Park Arboretum, fall 2015
  • Rose, Honorine de Brabant
  • Sunflower
  • Abraham and Akeda
  • Pincus and the Pig: a Klezmer Tale
  • Abuyudaya: proto-Jews of Uganda
  • Im Tirzu: a Fascist Movement
  • Marcy Silverstein and semi-pro baseball team circa 1920
  • Elijah's Cup by Szyk
  • Pete Seeger & Bruce Springsteen, 'This Land is Your Land' (Justin Sullivan-Getty)
  • Leonard Baskin: Ruth and Naomi, "Five Scrolls"
  • Ben Shahn, "You Have Not Converted a Man"
  • Study for Goyescas, Ben Shahn
  • Ben Shahn Allegory
    Allegory, Ben Shahn
  • Ben Shahn's Ecclesiastes
  • Ben Shahn, The Phoenix
  • Ben Shahn Warsaw 1943, "These I Remember"
  • Ben Shahn exhibition poster
  • Ben Shahn's Haggadah
  • chagall hadassah window
    Chagall Hadassah chapel window
  • Shavuot papercut, Poland
  • Hamsa with Star of David
  • Beatrice Wood: vase gourd

Tax Deductible Donations

Support Tikun Olam via Paypal

Follow Tikun Olam

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Recent Posts

  • UK Investment Firm Claims Israeli Cyber-War Firm It Bought Adheres to UN Ethical Guidelines
  • After Buying Major Stake in Israeli Cyber-Attack Firm, NSO Group, Global Witness Director Quits Board
  • Netanyahu Calls on Arab States to Join War Against Iran
  • Israel Lobby Seeks to Muzzle Ilhan Omar, Sabotage Democratic Resurgence
  • American Muslims to Saudis, American Jews to Israel: Why Do You Hate Us?

Categories

Archives

Pages

  • Photo Gallery
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Publications (author page)

  • Middle East Eye
  • The Nation Magazine
  • New Arab
  • Comment is Free
  • Mint Press News
  • Truthout
  • Seattle Times

Mideast Peace

  • Musings of a Muslim
  • Iran News
  • Palestine Center for Digital Media
  • The Media Line
  • Just Vision
  • If Not Now
  • Haim Schwarczenberg
  • Zochrot
  • Alternative Information Ctr
  • Extend

Progressive Blogs

  • Challenging Christian Zionism
  • Global Voices
  • Jews on First
  • Transatlantikblog

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS
  • WordPress.org

Copyright © 2019 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

This website uses cookies to provide you with the best browsing experience.

Find out more or adjust your settings.

Tikun Olam  תיקון עולם
Powered by GDPR plugin

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Cookie Policy

More information about our Cookie Policy