Hackers Disrupt Services of CafePress.com

CafePress woks on customizing products like T-shirts, hats and mugs. The site told its members that it was facing problems due to the attack. CafePress employees were working to set the problem right but as of December 21, 2006; they were still observing service disruptions.

Internet hackers use DDoS attacks to cause break in website. They flood the sites with malicious traffic sent from zombie computers so that the general public is unable to access them. Now being the prime shopping season, hackers may have intentionally targeted CafePress.com to take advantage of the holiday period.
In e-mail, CafePress told members that currently, there is occurring variable access to their site. While some customers are getting normal access, some other are getting intermittent access or no access at all.

The motive and source of the attack has not come into light. CafePress.com said it was on the job to resolve and investigate the source of the attack with the proper authorities. This is, therefore, preventing the site in sharing additional details right now. While they are sure that this attack is on CafePress, they are most disturbed by the fact that it is victimizing their community of traders. For CafePress.com deals with website hosting, order completion and payment processing on behalf of many storeowners.
According to Ron O'Brien, senior security analyst for Sophos, there are denials of service attacks on gambling websites during days before a high-profile horse race; therefore, it is not surprising that an attack was launched against a popular online store on the eve of Christmas. It is, hence, the responsibility of every user to properly secure his/ her computer and not let it go under the control of hackers trying to exploit it with this kind of attack.

Denial of service attacks has become a standard practice for hackers. The objectives could range from blackmailing websites to satisfying any old grudge against the company. Whatever they are, hackers can impose great damage to online business, according to Graham Cluley of Sophos.

Related article: Hackers Redirect Windows Live Search to Malicious Sites

» SPAMfighter News - 12/28/2006