A pubstro (or just stro) is a hacked computer or server with an installed
FTP
The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is a standard communication protocol used for the transfer of computer files from a server to a client on a computer network. FTP is built on a client–server model architecture using separate control and dat ...
server. This FTP server is used to facilitate the transferring and spreading of
warez
Warez refers to pirated software and other copyrighted digital media—such as video games, movies, music, and e-books—illegally distributed online, often after bypassing digital rights management (DRM). The term, derived from “software wa ...
, or copyrighted software.
This is typically accomplished by scanning broad
IP address
An Internet Protocol address (IP address) is a numerical label such as that is assigned to a device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. IP addresses serve two main functions: network interface i ...
ranges with
port scanner
A port scanner is an application designed to probe a server or host for open ports. Such an application may be used by administrators to verify security policies of their networks and by attackers to identify network services running on a host and ...
s in search of servers running open ports that are vulnerable to attack by various scripts (e.g.
CGI,
PHP
PHP is a general-purpose scripting language geared towards web development. It was originally created by Danish-Canadian programmer Rasmus Lerdorf in 1993 and released in 1995. The PHP reference implementation is now produced by the PHP Group. ...
,
VNC, etc.). The scripts are utilized to gain entry into the server whereupon the cracker uploads server software and creates logins. Many crackers will then patch the server against the very vulnerabilities they utilized to compromise the system thereby protecting it from being hijacked by other
FXP groups.
Although widely used among
FXP boards, pubstros are frowned upon in the
warez scene
The Warez scene, often referred to as The Scene, is an underground network of piracy groups specialized in obtaining and illegally releasing digital media before their official release date. The Scene distributes all forms of digital media, incl ...
.
See also
*
Cybercrime
Cybercrime encompasses a wide range of criminal activities that are carried out using digital devices and/or Computer network, networks. It has been variously defined as "a crime committed on a computer network, especially the Internet"; Cyberc ...
*
Topsite (warez)
Topsite is a term used by the Warez (scene), warez scene to refer to underground, highly secretive, high-speed File Transfer Protocol, FTP servers used by Warez group, release groups and couriers for distribution, storage and archiving of warez rel ...
References
* Braithwaite, Richard
"The ‘pubstro’ phenomenon: Robin Hoods of the Internet"(2003). ACIS 2003 Proceedings. 104.
* Jelver, P.
Pubstro-hacking – Systematic Establishment of Warez Servers on Windows Internet Servers Verified: July 24 (2003), July 23 (2002)
* {{cite book , last1=Stefan, first1=Axelsson , last2=Sands , first2=David , title=Understanding Intrusion Detection Through Visualization , chapter=Visualization for Intrusion Detection—Hooking the Worm , series=Advances in Information Security , date=2006 , volume=24 , pages=111–127 , publisher=Springer Verlag, citeseerx=10.1.1.2.3933, doi=10.1007/0-387-27636-X_7, isbn=0-387-27634-3
an
explanations on aboutthescene.com.
Warez