Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2003/04/01/free_software_gives_hackers_taste/

Free software gives hackers taste of own medicine

Controversial retaliation

By Team Register

Posted in Bootnotes, 1st April 2003 08:12 GMT

April Fool IT security specialist Backfire Security today announced the availability of a software download as a discrete desk-top client application which wreaks revenge on those hackers and culprits attacking your network or infecting users with worms and/or viruses.

The freeware package - PAYBACK v1.0 - is available from www.backfiresecurity.co.uk in both PC and Mac formats.

PAYBACK v1.0 is a new kind of anti-hacker application called an IRS (Intruder Retaliation System) and is based upon "guerrilla" programming protocols and algorithms originally developed for the Chinese Space Program.

The software has the ability to instantly and dynamically 'trace' the IP source address - no matter how well masked - of the network attack/infection and respond by launching either a Domain Name or Mail Server flood attack in the direction of the attacker.

This overwhelming retaliation is then accelerated by up to 6000% per cent, according to independent tests, as the software initiates a peered "guerrilla" offensive by capturing any available waste Internet data during its transit (dropped packets, redundant addresses, undelivered mails etc) and aggregating them in the attack.

"Anyone who has ever been hacked or infected by viruses would doubtless like nothing better than to pay their attackers back with a lesson they'll never forget," said A. (Archie) Mendoza, CEO and founder of Backfire Security Inc. "Our aim is to exterminate all hackers and virus felons from the Internet by the end of 2004, and we have the unique technology to do it."

Nick Morse, managing director of Mindshare Group, Backfire's principal distributor for the UK market, said: "This is exactly what business needs to protect itself against online security threats. With an IRS lying in wait - literally anyone can get a hacker by the scruff of the neck and take them to the cleaners."

Backfire Security was founded by a group of reformed ex-hackers - among them Archie Mendoza, Tal Selley and Damien Li. The highly motivated team of "Poacher-turned-Gamekeepers" has been responsible for a range of award-winning security solutions, among them the GROWL IDS, DESTROY IPS and PEACE Security Gateway.

Headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA (USA), Backfire Security Inc. has engineering and testing development offices in Chengdu (China) and Chepstow (UK). ®