ISPs angered over PTCL failure to stop DoS attacks
KARACHI- Internet service providers (ISPs) gave vent to their anger on April 17, 2003 over Pakistan Telecommunication Company’s failure in stopping Denial of Service attacks, which make internet surfing to go at a snail’s pace, and demanded that an independent inquiry commission probe into the matter.
“We demand an independent inquiry commission to carry out investigations into the negligence and failure of PTCL in timely detection of attacks on STM-1, the main stay of country’s connectivity with the outside world (which PTCL blames for problems to ISPs),” V A Abidi, Secretary General ISPs Association of Pakistan (ISPAK) told a press conference at a local hotel.
“Whatever has to be done needs to be done faster in order to restore public confidence and alleviate the suffering of more than two million internet users that subscribe to ISPs,” he emphasised.
Abidi, flanked by other ISPAK office-bearers said it has been observed during past several weeks that PTCL is quite helpless and unable to face Denial of Service attacks.
He alleged PTCL accepted SingTel service against ISPs’ advice without any back to back Service Level Agreement with the uplink service provider. “It is now PTCL’s responsibility to pull the country out of this quagmire,” urged ISPAK office-bearers suggesting several measures to get rid of DoS attacks.
Abidi suggested PTCL should terminate STM-1 on more than one routers and immediately suspend Pakistan Internet Exchange. In addition, all government websites that have become targets of increasing attacks by hackers, be separated and diverged onto National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) route, he added.
ISPAK alleged PTCL has never given serious consideration to service level, partly due to its legacy from the days of T&T, (Telephone and Telegraph) – its name before it was listed on the exchange.
“This means that the design of network, selection of hardware, software and maintenance of network stability has never been given any attention. Though, ISPAK pointed it out at the very outset of dialogue but neither PTCL nor the ministry concerned paid any attention,” Abidi lamented.
Source: The News
Date:4/18/2003
” 
” 
” 
” 
” 
