Quantcast
PCWorld.com is upgrading some back-end systems. Some site features, such as user registration, may be temporarily unavailable.
Subscribe to magazine

RIAA Site Hit With Denial-of-Service Attack

Attack began just one day after controversial legislation was proposed to crack down on peer-to-peer piracy.

Scarlet Pruitt, IDG News Service

  • 0 Yes
  • 0 No

The Recording Association of America's Web site was knocked offline over the weekend in what appeared to be a denial-of-service attack, an RIAA representative says Tuesday.

The group's site, at RIAA.com, was inaccessible for portions of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday after being inundated by scores of machines trying to make simultaneous connections to the Web site, the representative says.

The denial-of-service attack began a day after a new RIAA-backed bill was introduced. The proposed legislation aims to crack down on peer-to-peer piracy.

Safe Harbor

The bill, introduced Thursday by U.S. Representative Howard L. Berman (D-California), proposes a safe harbor for copyright holders to employ technological means to protect their works.

Under the proposed legislation, copyright holders would be able to employ technological tools such as file blocking, redirection, spoofs, and decoys, among others, to curb piracy.

Although the proposed bill has stirred controversy among privacy proponents, the RIAA representative did not link the attack with its support of the legislation.

The RIAA's site resumed normal operations Monday.

  • Recommend this story?
  • 0 Yes
    0 No
 

Featured APC Accessories

  • APC Back-UPS ES Safeguards your equipment from damaging surges and spikes that travel along your utility & data lines.
  • APC SurgeArrest Performance Highest level of protection for your professional computers, electronics and connected devices, as well as provides surge protection.

People who read this also read:

  • 15 Minutes to a Secure Business Get the Secure in 15 toolkit starting with the "15 Minutes Month-at-a-Glance" calendar. McAfee will send you additional tools and tricks to stay protected around the clock.
  • A Buyer's Guide to Data Protection Implementing data protection products and processes can be daunting. Make the right decisions by exploring what is available and what makes sense for your organization. Use this simple guide to evaluate different vendor offerings.

Sponsored Links