Ask Slashdot: FTP Server Honeypots?

An anonymous reader writes "I run an FTP server for a few dozen people, and it seems like every week I have a random IP address connect to my box and try guessing 'Administrator' passwords once every five seconds or so. This poses no real risk to me, since all my accounts have custom (uncommon) names. But if this is happening to me, I would wager lots of people are at risk of low level, persistent, long term password cracking attempts. Is there a way to report the perpetrators, or any action we can take to address this kind of danger?"

ssh is the same

[bugs2squash]

About all you can do is briefly connect the Ethernet to a power outlet and hope that the tubes carry the high voltage across the interweb and fry their equipment. Of course, timing is everything.

Re:ssh is the same

[JustNiz]

Mod parent up Wow this works really well!
Since briefly connecting my ethernet to the power socket I haven't had any hack attempts at all!! That must have showed them!!

Re:ftp sends passwords in cleartext; sftp+denyhost

[alostpacket]

That would be like retrofitting a tricycle to make it supersonic.

So you're saying it would be totally awesome?

Re:RMS's root password

[Darinbob]

He also had a README file whose contents were
"cat: README: No such file or directory".

Re:The longer answer.

[diodeus]

Years ago we found our FTP server was full. It was hacked and contained all kinds of movies and xbox games. We just happened to like movies and xbox games, so we gave it a bit more space.