This story is a follow-up on CERT Advisory
CA-98.13 – TCP/IP Denial of Service, December 21, 1998.
“Denial-of-service attacks…are just aimed at preventing
someone from using their own computers,” said AT&T Labs
Research fellow Steven Bellovin. “In this case, an enemy can send
some packets that will crash certain operating systems.”
Ironically, he added, “There is rarely any direct benefit to the
attacker. It’s usually the electronic equivalent of kids who walk
down the street snapping off car antennas.”