[geeks] Using a mailing list for a DDOS attack

[Shannon Hendrix]

On Nov 26, 2007, at 11:34 AM, Jonathan Katz wrote:

>> If 1300 calls to 112 causes a problem, it seems to me that something
>> is wrong with their emergency call system.
>>
>> Is it really that easy to overload?
>
> It's that easy to overload 911 in the USA.
>
> I live in a neighborhood that is urban and being gentrified. We have a
> vigilant crimewatch. Our hoodlum neighbors (now gone) had a small riot
> in the alley. A full-on brawl with about 15 people. SO many neighbors
> called 911 (about 20 at once) some of us received busy signals.

Do you live in a major city?

Around here I think all of our 911 service is contracted to a large  
privately run regional system that serves the whole area.

It has had problems, but the biggest seem to be when there are large  
storms.  We get hit with a lot of hurricanes, nor-easters, and  
flooding and people call when they get scared.

The problem of course is that 911 can't help you during those kinds of  
storms, so they have to try and filter the real emergencies out of the  
noise.

Supposedly they have software that helps them deal with "fear surges"  
and that sort of thing.

The last time I remember 911 having issues was Hurricane Isabel.  It  
ripped the area up pretty badly, and people called during the night  
when they got scared.

-- 
Shannon Hendrix
shannon at widomaker.com