Cant Get On :(

[Leen]

Same thing like yesterday again
How come every time I turn on my PC to go play some FF11
it won't work... /sigh

[Aliria]

well when i logged this morning on diabolos I logged the first time and have a great connection. It too bad that their getting all these problems. I mean cant these people go pic on someone else....

[Rai|Kye]

Originally posted by Ghik'Que
You don't think other corps aren't either? I am sure EVERY SINGLE mmorpg has been or is being attacked daily. SE's absolute lack of the ability to HANDLE/FIX/TAKE CARE OF/RESOLVE/ETC is the only thing different from everyone else. Boo hoo we're being DDOSed, but we're gonna take your money anyways and "work to resolve the problem".
blab bla bla bla blubb [/B]

u have never played WoW have u ? Blizzard even thought about Shuting down Servers for 1 month !!

hackers are a problem of every MMorpg the more popular the more atks

S-E is doing their job and if u want to blame anyone, blame the hackers >>

its not like S-E wants to use customers

[Aeolus]

Ok then, thank you ****** hackers for ruining the 2times I have had to lv up this week you absolute w*nkers. f**k off and get a life.

[Yoko]

This is SO friggin frustrating........dont you just LOVE losing your money? -_-;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

[Rusashi]

/sigh...why does this happen on my week off?

[Rimheart]

this is bullshit , i want to get on line

[SolidSnake207]

Those bastards should at least give us this month free for putting up with this bullshit.

[Macht]

Just an FYI, there is a difference between a hacker and cracker.

Hacker = Attacks a system with only the intent to viewing or copying data. Generally they are harmless unless the data they get is sensitive or private.

Cracker = Malicious Hacker (I like the latter better, cracker just seems silly) = Hackers with the intent to destroy, any reason you can think of is plausible for them to be doing their actions. This or these crackers attacking POL could be doing it because they are WoW fanatics and think that reducing the FFXI effeciency will get players to leave that and join WoW or they could even FFXI players that think the servers to crowded and trying to get rid of people. So basically you leave means they win.

DDoS attacks are very hard to fight because unlike DoS attack it isn't a 1 to 1 attack. In DoS 1 computer is attacking 1 server, those are easy to trace since there is only 1 source and not very effective since a higher bandwidth can kill that ability. In DDoS the cracker or term in used with DDoS attacks the "Agent" gets a hold of zombie computer or "Hosts", they can do it in multiple ways all they have to do is get their coding on that "Host" computer. Once they have enough then they just send a simple command and all the "Host" computers active at the time start their attack on the Server.

The hard part on this is that the "Host" computers are generally innocent (Normal users that don't know how to identify if they are being "hosts" to these attacks, or even routers). Usually to find the source or person doing these attacks you have to log whats going through the network and sift through it, not only your computer but with every other that can be participating to identify the malicious attacker.

That's only 1 of the multiple methods to create a DDoS as you can see it is not a quick and simple process that can be done in just 6 days. You also have methods were other innocent routers are turned into reflective routers creating basically a wall of latency so it is difficult for players to even reach the source but these routers also reflecting the attack and flooding the server being attacked. This method was termed Diffusing.

Again that's something you can't stop so easily, then you can get even more complex and have host computers creating the relected routers and tracing the source gets harder and harder to identify and stop. This is something that just recently started and became more and more malicious as of late, that is why SE put that message notifying their customers of the DDoS that was basically their message saying "Get ready for a wild ride because we are in for a BIG one."

EDIT:

Just some math to show the smallest record I've found of a DDoS had 140 computers can be made "Hosts" to cause serious damage with DDoS attacks. If you take FFXI population last I knew was 1 mil and only consider that maybe 20% are using a third party program that could possibly be making them a "Host" to these attacks that's 200,000 computers (That's a 1,427,57.14% increase to the minimum I know of in a DDoS attack). 200,000 computers sending packets of just 1 Mbps would easily be overkill for even the fastest OC lines that exist.

[Grizzlebeard]

Trying to call the Euro support to find out what's going on because there's no official information on the EU or NA site and the number is permanently engaged with redial function disabled. Great f**king customer communication S-E. So, we just all sit around like good paying customers and keep hitting the key because no-one at S-E deems us worth notifying of the current progress.

*edit* Now the EU staff have finished for the day so I presumably have to contact the NA help desk now to be presumably told to just try again later. Totally disgusting customer service.

[Kilgraw]

Maybe SE will feel guilty about me not being able to play and I'll find some gil in my delivery box when I next get on... A man can dream can't he?

[Tokitoki]

I guess the people saying they arent giving information dont actually read the site...

FromlayOnline
Apr. 15, 2005 09:15 [PDT]

Technical Difficulties Due to Third-Party Attacks

This is an announcement about PlayOnline network technical difficulties since Apr. 9, 2005.

It has come to our attention that recent technical difficulties with our PlayOnline server are due to a DDoS from anonymous third parties. We have determined that this activity was undertaken with malicious intent and specifically targeted our network. Our technicians are taking every measure possible to prevent further attacks. However, attack methods have varied, which has caused a more time-consuming review of our network protection.

Currently we are unable to determine the precise source of attack. However, with the cooperation of ISP companies, our investigation continues to make progress. Law enforcement authorities in Japan, the United States, and Europe have been contacted for support.

We chose not to make an announcement of this nature earlier due to the unwanted effect it could have on our investigation, on the investigations of authorities abroad, and for stopping information that could be used to undertake additional network attacks. The most recent server difficulties and PlayOnline service interruption, however, have persuaded us to disclose more information on this matter to our users.

We deeply apologize for the inconvenience these attacks have caused in recent days. Attacks continue at this hour in intervals and we regret that our investigation cannot allow for estimates as to when we expect service to return to optimal levels. Our technicians will continue to select the most effective measures available as we work with local and international authorities to take legal action against those obstructing PlayOnline service. We ask for your understanding and cooperation as we strive to maintain the best service possible. Thank you.

[Macht]

Kind of funny I'd of thought these two messages (Third-Party Attacks and Intermittent Connective Issues) would keep players happy for a while. Especially if they understood the difficulty it is to fight DDoS attacks, I kind of think it improper to demand something from SE if they truely are trying to resolve the situation.

When the DDoS attacks came to their attention it was April 9, 2005. They notified the players just before it started to get really bad on April 15th and 16th, 6-7 days later that message there was to basically tell everyone that it's going to be a while if you look at the Third-Party Attack one at the bottom they even stated.

We deeply apologize for the inconvenience these attacks have caused in recent days. Attacks continue at this hour in intervals and we regret that our investigation cannot allow for estimates as to when we expect service to return to optimal levels. Our technicians will continue to select the most effective measures available as we work with local and international authorities to take legal action against those obstructing PlayOnline service.

Which with DDoS attacks that is true, figuring out how long it'll last or identifying their method (provided it doesn't change) and stopping it is very difficult. They haven't even gone past 1 month yet of trying to fix this and already getting hammered by not only the ones doing the DDoS but their legit customers. When you guys are trying to get something done do you particularly like it when you have someone breathing down your neck or if you can would you ignore them so you can focus on what really is the bigger problem?

I mean complaining after only 10 days after being warned of the DDoS attacks to me seems to be way to soon. Got to give them more time for something like this before flooding them with complaints.

EDIT:

Sometimes complaining is good and get things resolved, but sometimes you are just adding to the problem which is not helping to resolve it.

[Rusashi]

theres still no info on whats been going on for almost 5 hours. SE needs to do SOMETHING. Appologizing isnt going to get back that xp we could be making. I dont think thousands of people pay to not get any customer service.

[Grizzlebeard]

Tokitoki, pray tell how a post over a week old pertains to the fact that people have been unable to play for the last three days. Customer communication is an ongoing process otherwise you find yourself losing disgruntled customers.