A netsplit is a malfunction in IRC where servers disconnect, causing users to appear disconnected. It can lead to minor user attacks, such as taking control of another user’s nickname or chat room. Netsplits can temporarily put security at risk, but most servers return control to previous admins after the split.
A netsplit is a malfunction found in Internet relay chat (IRC). When a user experiences a netsplit, a series of messages will appear within each chat room making it appear that a number of other IRC users have disconnected. This occurs when a server or modality is disconnected from other servers within the same IRC server network. Typically, this event straightens itself within minutes of the split. A split server on IRC can open users up to a few minor user attacks that are more annoying than destructive.
IRC is a chat client that gives a user access to a number of networks hosting multiple user-administered chat rooms. Functions within IRC differ by server and can sometimes include password protection of user nicks, called nicks on the server, and password-protected control over chat rooms that a registered user has claimed. When a server does not have nickname password protection, any new user can log in to the server and take any nickname that does not belong to someone who is currently logged into the server. During a netsplit, some users exploit these servers by taking the nick of another user who has been disconnected from the netsplit. Depending on the server, this may mean that the original user cannot adopt the nick again until the usurper leaves.
On servers with password protection for user nicks, the system automatically changes the user’s nick to a random guest nick. This helps ensure that a user cannot pretend to be another user by taking control of their nick. When a user registered with a password claims a chat room, the user can then set controls on who can enter the chat room and specify who else has control over the chat room settings. A split puts the security of both nicks and chat rooms at a minor and temporary risk of hijacking.
During a netsplit, a user can temporarily gain control over a chat channel if the channel is unregistered and all user admins are logged out during the netsplit. After splitting, most servers automatically return control to users with admin status prior to the netsplit. In some cases, if all admins are logged out, netsplit can cause an internet relay chat takeover that costs the original admins control over the channel. This is considered a big offense and a bit of a big deal on IRC, although starting a new channel on the service is as simple as finding an unregistered name.
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