VARs assist in DoS crisis

Channel helps out as online businesses hit by denial of service attacks

The channel has come to the rescue after six online businesses were bought down by denial of service (DoS) attacks.

Criminals used DoS to crash web sites and demanded £50,000 from each victim to stop the attacks. Police are investigating the incidents and the companies involved are using the channel to upgrade their IT defences.

Professor Neil Barrett, technology director at security firm Information Risk Management, said that in the past, such attacks have been launched from compromised servers.

Ian Morris, co-founder of equIP, said the distributor has been working with several specialist VARs implementing Top Layer's intrusion protection products for the sites.

"In a lot of cases the attacks have taken out well-configured firewalls. Most people believe that because they have got firewalls they are bullet-proof. These attacks have shown this is not the case."

Grahame Smee, director at equIP, said: "We were on site with our VARs within hours. The system collects information regarding the attacks so evidence can be given to the police."

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