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Packet Storm Security To Return
OSAll Staff Members
Discuss AntiOnline & PSS at BBSystem
Packet Storm Security, the security resource used by literally thousands of security professionals, was taken offline after AntiOnline [note: OSAll is listed as a denied referrer by AntiOnline.com] founder John Vrasenivich threatened legal action against PSS and its host, Harvard University. At the time the site was taken down, no one knew whether data would be returned to site administrator Ken Williams. Similiarly, no one knew whether Packet Storm Security would ever be reborn.
The site, which had more than eight gigabytes of network traffic per day, was having difficulty finding a host willing to deal with such volume. In addition, rebuilding an archive that had taken years was a daunting task for the sole administrator of the site, who was doing the entire job with literally no monetary reward.
Since Packet Storm was first taken down, however, wonderful things have happened. Harvard University, the site host, has returned the Packet Storm archive to Ken Williams on a seventeen gigabyte hard drive, shipped Federal Express. Simultaneously, the community has reacted, offering more help than Williams could respond to.
Network providers such as GTE and BBN have offered to host the site on their own backbones, allowing unlimited storage and traffic for free. People who have used the site have come forward, constructing an archive of the site as they last saw it. Ken Williams has been "mail bombed" with so many letters of support he stayed offline for two days simply because he didnīt want to deal with the volume of e-mail.
And just as Packet Storm Security is returning to its feet to reign again, the aggressors who had it shut down are being shunned by their peers. AntiOnline, which already had an amazingly dubious reputation, has seen visits decrease by ten percent since PSS was shut down, according to a source close to the site.
Movements like Attritionīs Negation, which lists wrongs perpetrated by AntiOnline, and OSAllīs Shun AntiOnline have seen increased traffic and support just as AntiOnline has lost that traffic. Hundreds of e-mails have been received at news sites like HNN and OSAll showing support for PSS and decrying AntiOnlineīs actions.
Although Ken Williams has not said so in so many words, Packet Storm Security will almost undoubtfully be back. The archive has been returned to proper hands and Williams will never again have to work alone. It should only be a matter of time before we can all enjoy PSS in its full splendor once again. |
