Internet Relay Chat

I've been on IRC, specifically EFnet, almost as long as I have been on the Internet, since early 1995 I think.

You can read a FAQ, download a client for Win32 or X, or get a list of EFnet Servers, alt.

Camshaft's Good Little Peon Guide is another good thing to read for newbies.

From a Wired news article:

"The bad guys have an elegant, instant communications system," said Paller, director of research at the SANS Institute, a network security research and education organization. "A [security] hole will be attacked across a broad front in minutes."

He was referring to the Internet Relay Chat network, a real-time, text-based chat system where crackers can gather to share information and coordinate attacks on computer networks in the critical hours after a security vulnerability is discovered.

I have some logs here your might find amusing:

• Current EFnet Routing mailing list archives
• New EFnet Server Guidelines
• THE LATEST IN DENIAL OF SERVICE ATTACKS: "SMURFING"