Muguito
Encyclopedia
Muguito was a freeware
Java
application used by the Artists Against 419
to take some fraudulent
websites offline. It was a replacement for the Mugu Marauder
tool.
The program worked by repeatedly downloading the scam site's images and HTML
files until the site's bandwidth limit was exceeded. Many people used this program at the same time, and a site could be quickly taken offline.
Some people confused what the artists did with a denial-of-service attack
. A DoS attack affects all websites on the server or network. However, Muguito did not do this. Muguito was programmed to stop downloading if the server did not respond after a certain amount of time. Its aim was to have the site shut down by the server when the site's small bandwidth limit was exceeded.
Another, similar tool used by AA419 was the Lad Vampire
. Both Muguito and the Lad Vampire were very easy and straightforward to use.
Note: AA419 stopped using the Lad Vampire and Muguito in September 2007. Neither is operational now.
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
Java
Java (Sun)
Java refers to several computer software products and specifications from Sun Microsystems, a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation, that together provide a system for developing application software and deploying it in a cross-platform environment...
application used by the Artists Against 419
Artists Against 419
Artists Against 419 is an Internet community dedicated to identifying and shutting down 419 scam websites...
to take some fraudulent
Advance fee fraud
An advance-fee fraud is a confidence trick in which the target is persuaded to advance sums of money in the hope of realizing a significantly larger gain...
websites offline. It was a replacement for the Mugu Marauder
Mugu Marauder
The Mugu Marauder was an application used by the Artists Against 419 to take some fraudulent websites offline. Mugu Marauder was superseded by a similar Java-based tool called Muguito and also the Lad Vampire....
tool.
The program worked by repeatedly downloading the scam site's images and HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
files until the site's bandwidth limit was exceeded. Many people used this program at the same time, and a site could be quickly taken offline.
Some people confused what the artists did with a denial-of-service attack
Denial-of-service attack
A denial-of-service attack or distributed denial-of-service attack is an attempt to make a computer resource unavailable to its intended users...
. A DoS attack affects all websites on the server or network. However, Muguito did not do this. Muguito was programmed to stop downloading if the server did not respond after a certain amount of time. Its aim was to have the site shut down by the server when the site's small bandwidth limit was exceeded.
Another, similar tool used by AA419 was the Lad Vampire
Lad Vampire
The Lad Vampire was a freeware web-based application used by the Artists Against 419 to take some fraudulent websites offline. Using it was very easy: users simply started up the Lad Vampire webpage and left it running....
. Both Muguito and the Lad Vampire were very easy and straightforward to use.
Note: AA419 stopped using the Lad Vampire and Muguito in September 2007. Neither is operational now.