Botnet master hits the kill switch, takes down 100,000 PCs [ArsTechnica]
It's just another reason to remain vigilant with regard to online security threats. News comes from ArsTechnica that 100,000 computers that were infected with malicious code and drafted into a botnet, have been shut down by the botnet's operator -- issued a command that killed the operating system on the zombie machines. No it's not a scene from a cheap horror movie, it's a real problem that thousands of computer users - who have likely had personal and financial information compromised - now have a dead computer.
The Zeus/Zbot botnet infected PCs via a trojan, and managed to make each installation look just a bit different from the last. Because it didn't create a pattern of installations, it managed to stay below the radar of antivirus and anti-malware programs. It lurked on users' machines, mining the information that users' typed or saved on their systems. The botnet also had a "kill switch" that, when activated, would disrupt users' operating systems to the point that their computers were useless.
At some point recently, the kill switch was flipped, and took out the 100,000 computers on the botnet. Security researchers are unsure about why the hackers killed the Zeus botnet. Possibly the botnet's servers were taken over by rival hackers. Researchers have also postulated that the hackers wanted to begin using the financial information they had stolen, and wanted to disable the owners' ability to stop or track their activities.
Whatever the reason, it's clear the importance of avoiding risky activities that can cause the installation of malicious software on your computer. Avoid untrusted emails, attachments and web sites and installing a good security suite are the best ways to remain vigilant against this threat.
Comments