Is UPI trying to say that Sub7 and programs like it are something new?
Gotta love those 'owned' Windows machines.
How is it they cite Macintosh among the target computers? Have you heard of this?
"This sounds like the plot of a latter day Ed Wood movie."
Plan 0 From Cyberspace....right?
I don't think things get better until software gets better on the net side. People on average will not protect theselves.
Not a very helpful article. No real details at all.
This is not really new. What is new revolves around the higher number of home computers connected to broadband. The worst offenders are those who connect their computer directly to the DSL or cable modem. These folks are putting a routable (visible) IP address right out there, and without some really strong firewall action, the computer is much easier to compromise.
A consumer grade router (linksys, dlink, etc) placed between the modem and the computer, with the default settings on the router changed is a good first step in combatting this. Additionally, most broadband providers offer a security suite with antivirus and firewall protection. This is a good thing.
Windows is susceptable because it is "feature rich," there is so many boxes out there runnig the OS, and so many folks running it stock.
Doesn't everybody pretty much know this? Talk about a non-story.
Something like 80%+ of all spam comes from just fewer than 200 people, located mainly in the US. These kingpins outsource their spam to Eastern Europe, who receive contracts just like a business.
This is the very definition of a racket. The FBI needs to dust off the anti-racketeering statutes and go after them.
And AOL applications carry the interface program!
I certainly don't want any government involvement, but if you use ANY brand of computer, OS and/or Internet you owe it to the rest of the world to demonstrate at least a working knowledge of security and take precautions to keep your computer safe (i.e., not becoming a zombie delivering spam, spyware and hogging bandwidth!).
PING for later reference.
"While some zombie computer crimes have been linked to computers running Linux or Macintosh operating systems, officials have warned that Windows systems are the most susceptible."
With no credible reports of any Mac being turned into a Zombie NetBot without its owner's knowledge, this article is a "Them, too!" FUD article! PING!
If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.
I thought the article was announcing a coordinated attack, right now, today.
WTH?
Must be a slow news day.
Macs under attack by zombie computer users
This is absolutely true. The Strategy Pages discusses this occasionally; Zombies are worth about $50/month, each. Various criminal groups, esp. in Eastern Europe, run huge nets of these things and fight for control of machines.
Ummm....give me ONE example of a Linux or Macintosh computer acting as a "zombie" in this scheme... just one... please.