Attrition is an information security-related website, created in October, 1998,[1] which used to be updated at least weekly by an all-volunteer staff. Until 21 May 2001,[2] Attrition maintained the largest mirror of defaced (or cracked) websites available on the World Wide Web. The defacement mirror has since ceased updating.[3] The site contains a variety of information, including movie and music reviews, poetry, and security tips covering topics like forensics, data theft, and security advisories.[4]
In 2001, attrition.org was given a cease and desist order by lawyers of MasterCard for posting parodies of its "Priceless" advertising campaign, which they claim violated copyright law.[5] An argument between attrition.org and MasterCard ensued, resulting in their communications and one final "Priceless" parody being posted online.[6]
In 2006, Republican communications aide Todd Shriber attempted to hire Attrition to crack his former university's website.[7] Shriber was then sacked from his job for attempting to solicit a hacker to inflate his GPA.[8]
Attrition formerly hosted several electronic mailing lists relating to information security, such as InfoSec News. It also maintained the Data Loss Database, which recorded company experienced data breaches.[9]