Barnstormers recently suffered a massive cyber attack -

Why?

And what was it?

Stuxnet?

Possibly not. Stuxnet is the most sophisticated attack software program ever created. U.S. officials said the worm's unprecedented complexity gives it the potential ability to physically sabotage industrial control systems. It is believed to be responsible for a recent cyber attack on the nuclear research facilities of Iran. The software caused the machines to destroy themselves. Stuxnet marks a new era in cyber warfare.

So I don't think anyone directed Stuxnet at barnstormers.com.

But who did attack us; and more interestingly, why Barnstormers?

Actually, it probably doesn't matter. Oh we'd like to have the authorities find those who perpetrated the attack in order that they may be prevented from attacking others. But like I said, it probably doesn't matter. We have our defenses which protect the core of the site and it's databases.  All the secure information is therefore safe. The attack simply crushed the site with millions of bogus "sign ons".  Those who perpetrate such attacks will commonly have large numbers of computers subject to their control and use them to launch the attack. Many computer owners fail to activate a solid firewall against intrusion and are thus vulnerable to nefarious groups infecting their computers. The imbedded software lies dormant until called upon to join the attack. Thus these groups, known as botnets, perpetrate a "DDosbots" or 'Denial of Service Robots'. The ‘botnets’ are able to employ any number of infected computers for the attack, with the owners never becoming aware of their complicity.

Protect your computer? Read about botnets here »

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/tdl-4-enslaves-over-4-5-million-pcs-into-indestructible-botnet/

How do bots work?  http://www.honeynet.org/node/54

So someone attacked Barnstormers. We hired a powerful security firm to clamp filters on the incoming traffic, analyze it, determine from whence the large connections emanated and filter those from the legitimate traffic to the site. No Problem; other than where it can take minutes to block the actual attack, it can take days to perfect filtering the good from the bad. You may have experienced some of our frustrations with these processes this past week. But what did the "botnet', and those who paid for them, gain by attacking such an innocuous site as barnstormers.com? (yes, generally you would have to pay a "bot herder" to do your dirty work)

They gained nothing really. Surely they watched us tear our hair out for a day or two, and alerted us to increase the complexity of our security, and probably felt satisfied that they had caused us some consternation over it all; but damage? None, other that to your patience, for which we take this opportunity to thank you.

Future attacks?  We find ourselves in good company as far as being recently targeted are concerned.

Example, this report from last weeks Reuters News Service - At least 48 chemical and defense companies as well as a number of Fortune 100 corporations were victims of a coordinated cyber attack that has been traced to a man in China. Maybe he included Barnstormers.

Then Intel Corporation’s security unit McAfee, in August, identified "Operation Shady RAT," a five-year coordinated attack on 72 organizations, including the United Nations, and a number of governments and private corporations, and as of last week the Adidas Web sites remained offline as a result of a "sophisticated" cyber attack

Protection from future attacks?  We've been in the process of rebuilding this site in the latest, most sophisticated and robust codes available. The rebuild has been completed and is even now being tested. We look forward to soon providing you the fastest, most secure site possible. And once again allow us to express our appreciation for your patience thru this attack and for your continued loyalty.

David Rose
President
Barnstormers Inc.

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