Hackers attack Time Warner Cable’s Internet service
February 26th, 2009, 9:15 am · 32 Comments · posted by Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress
I’ve been receiving complaints from readers who are Time Warner customers and, apparently, this is serious stuff.
Jeff Simmermon, Time Warner’s director of digital communications, said its DNS servers (the system that matches easy-to-remember web addresses to the corresponding numbers — such as ocregister.com instead of numbers) have targeted by ”denial of service” attacks for seven days. Without these translations functioning, web browsers are unable to locate their destinations.
In a message, Simmermon said “hackers have launched a series of DOS attacks on Time Warner Cable’s DNS servers, affecting customer experience in our Southern California and National regions.”
It ain’t pretty, he said. Customers are being affected and getting intermittent error notices like “page cannot be displayed” when looking up a site online.
Reached this morning, Simmermon said that Time Warner isn’t going to ignore this.
“This is a crime that is being perpetrated on us. It’s a big deal and it’s affecting a lot of our customers. We will prosecute,” he said.
Customers should be getting an e-mail on this later today, he said.
Here is the rest of his earlier message:
These attacks are not uncommon, especially for a network as large as ours. However, this particular series of attacks has been larger and more difficult to contain than similar attacks in the past. We suspect that the attackers are using “zombie computers,” or hijacking unsuspecting subscribers’ machines to perpetuate the attack without its owner’s knowledge.
As of 6PM EST on Feb. 24th, we have amplified and expanded early detection and response to this sort of problem.
Customers who want to prevent their computers from being used in this sort of attack should make sure that their anti-virus and firewall software are up to date.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please know that we are currently working with the help of law enforcement to bring these attackers to justice.
All TWC customers can avoid the issue by using an alternative DNS technology, such as OpenDNS. Switching is pretty self-explanatory.
Also, to get it on the record, I recommend calling customer service and complaining: (888)-TWCABLE. You can also communicate with Simmermon directly by following him on Twitter at twitter.com/jeffTWC
Stay tuned…
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No wonder why I can’t access the Internet. I thought something was wrong with my router.
Open DNS………… ????????????
Come on TW…………. You really want to create more problems for users?
Maybe you need some new network admins if this has been going on for over a week.
Slime/Warner’s inability to correct this issue is the last straw for me. I am dumping them for AT&T U-verse.
I use: http://www.opendns.com/
Best DNS service around & it’s free, I hate TW DNS servers.
Finally an explanation! This past week has been frustrating, I pay great money to have a high speed connection and what ive been getting lately is a snail type connection along with “Page cannot be displayed” oh how i loath those words!
I too though something was wrong with my modem, i was literally going to replace it tomorrow with a different one.
Well, good luck TWC. Get those sons-a-*******!
Wow, they must not realize that the real victims of those attack are their own friends and family who use Time Warner for internet service. DDOS their website if you hate them so much.
changing your DNS to OpenDNS is a really smart move. Its free and has a load of features for controlling bad websites
I cannot recommend it enough
just get to opendns.org and follow the instructions
(and if your dns is already hosed)
here’s the ip 208.67.219.99
BTW ocregister….your spam filter blows…..
I cant believe this… It only took me 60 mintues for someone to tell me this the other night… via costa rice call center… Time Warner, what are you going to do for you customers??? I still have to pay my bills!!
Preventing DDOS attacks, especially with DNS servers, are very easy . Who is in charge of their network? Anybody with basic server and networking skills can figure this out. I figured this out a week ago when it happened…
TIME WARNER CABLE SUCKS ANYWAYS. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS POOR, THEIR MOVIE ON DEMAND SERVICE IS POOR, THEIR SERVICE IN GENERAL IS POOR.
FACT No.1 TIME WARNER CABLE DOES NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW.
FIOS IS BETTER IN EVERY WAY.
FACT No. 63 TIME WARNER CABLE DOES NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW.
Their Network Admins are as dumb as rocks.
Get some control over your network TIME WARNER.
FACT No. 99 TIME WARNER CABLE DOES NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW.
Their advanced fiber network is not so advance. Their fiber is not to your home, it is their backbone. Verizon FIOS runs fiber to your home providing you with more of a reliable service & better quality service.
BOOOOO!!!!! TIME WARNER.
I called TW Cable, and they wouldnt credit my account!! I’m so over Time Warner Cable!!! Why pay for something that I can’t even use!!!! What a waste of money!!!! And this has been going on longer than what they say it is!!! I agree with you “OPEN DNS LOVER!!!” OCREGISTER ENOUGH WITH THE POP UPS!!!!!!
I switched from At&t last month to the internet/cable/phone bundle offered by TWC. The cable & phone have been great, but never before have I had SO many problems with “high speed internet.” It’s almost like clockwork that around 8pm, my internet is gone. For promising the world (and free showtime for a year) TWC is slowly losing me and making Fios look like a great option. Get your act together TWC!!!!!!!
I was told this last night when I called them.
I will not switch to ClosedDNS. Level3′s servers are the way for me.
4.2.2.1
4.2.2.2
4.2.2.3
4.2.2.4
4.2.2.5
4.2.2.6
Seems like someone has hacked the OCR homepage too :/
its an inside job people
They’re sending an e-mail to explain this. That’s brilliant. Just how am I supposed to get it when my home internet isn’t working.
TW is the absolute worst service in any type of business I have ever encountered. Their entire employee base of customer service, technical support, and sales support is completely inept, based on my experiences.
If I could change, I would. For now, it seems like the I’m stuck.
Hey Gadgetress, you ever try calling that number and getting through the myriad of menus in order to get to talk with a live person? Jeez, their tech support person I’m talking to right now has no clue what DNS or DDOS problems they have! She said “oh, it might be upgrades in the area.” ::groan::
Yes, this problem has affected me all week. TW owes their customers some credit on their next bill. We are paying for good service and not receiving it. I urge everyone to call and complain or write letters. This has got to stop.
I spent two hours screwing with my modem last night because of this. The internet has been crashing for days and my virus software has been going crazy with warning messages. Thanks Time Warner for continuing to give shoddy service loaded with problems at a much higher rate than in the past. Ever since this company took over for Comcast in my area I have had nothing but problems. TW should get their act together before they lose more customers.
I have Time Warner cable and internet. I’ve noticed the past few nights when I’ve logged in I can hardly access anything. Then it kicks me back to the RoadRunner page. I was so frustrated, this explains a lot. I hope they figure this out soon.
Do all you people realize there is a simple fix to this? I know you should not have to do this but really just move over to Open DNS. it’s free & easy to set up.
Time Warner Executives are subverting via laws by allowing foreign operatives to displace American workers via WebX. WebX allows foreign operatives to replace most any job in their organization without conforming to Visa laws. Thus Executives and the CEO’s is able to enrich themselves while putting another American Family on the street.
I support the attack on the Time Warner Executives because of their unscrupulous and unconventional war tactics that they wage on American employees.
I hope the attacks intensify because it is the only way to help American families feed their children. When the Executives stop waging unconventional warfare on their employees I expect the attacks to diminish.
If TW CEO’s and Executives continue to wage unconventional warfare against their employees then I will cancel my service.
It’s always SOMETHING with Time Warner. The internet service, the customer service, technical support….the HOURS that I have spent on hold….I think it’s time for me to move on. I’ve had Time Warner for most of my adult life and up until two years ago, I never had any problems. Way to go Time Warner…your greed has become your downfall.