full-disclosure - Why is IRC still around?

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Message-ID: <419E54C5.1010007@stormcenter.net>
From: live4java at stormcenter.net (Mister Coffee)
Subject: Why is IRC still around?

Danny wrote:
> Well, it sure does help the anti-virus (anti-malware) and security
> consulting business, but besides that... is it not safe to say that:
> 
> 1) A hell of a lot of viruses/worms/trojans use IRC to wreck further havoc?
 >
And?  There are a hell of a lot of "normal" users on IRC too who don't 
wreck havoc.  A lot of spam comes in email.  Does that make email bad?

> 2) A considerable amount of "script kiddies" originate and grow through IRC?
 >
And AIM, ICQ, Jabber, web-forums, mailing lists, etc.  IRC is one medium 
amungst many.

> 3) A wee bit of software piracy occurs?
>
Some, perhaps.  But unlike, say BitTorrent or Kazaa, IRC's primary role 
is communication rather than file transfer.  You could make the same 
argument for ANY of the IM clients that support file transfer.

> 4) That many organized DoS attacks through PC zombies are initiated through IRC?
 >
Many do.  Yes.  But many also originate through other media, and, again, 
  it's not the medium's fault that people use it for nefarious purposes. 
  Hitmen get calls on their cell phones.  Should we eliminate cell 
phones to stop the hitmen?

> 5) The anonymity of the whole thing helps to foster all the illegal
> and malicious activity that occurs?
> The list goes on and on...
> 
Anonymity is not a bad thing in many, man, respects.  And the list of 
legitimate uses goes on and on as well.

> Sorry to offend those that use IRC legitimately (LOL - find something
> else to chat with your buddies), but why the hell are we not pushing
> to sunset IRC?
> 
No offense.  But the arguments aren't especially strong.  We're not 
pushing to sunset the IRC protocol because there are still thousands and 
thousands of -legitimate- users in the world.  Unlike most IM systems, 
the IRC nets are completely independant.  There are some serious 
advantages to that.

> What would IT be like today without IRC (or the like)? Am I narrow
> minded to say that it would be a much safer place?
> 
Yes?

IRC is a protocol.  A tool like any other.  Last I looked there were 
still hundreds to thousands of IRC users at any given time who were 
there just to hang out and BS with their friends.   It's still a valid 
"community" if you will, in spite of the nefarious uses other people 
have put it to.

If you sunset something like IRC, the 3v1L h@...3z will just move their 
bots and trojans somewhere else.

> ...D

Cheers,
L4J