Zombie Computers!!! - GoFuckYourself.com

Greg B · 09-27-2004, 11:39 AM

Thousands Of Zombie
PCs Created Daily
By Will Knight
NewScientist.com
9-27-4

The rate at which personal computers are being hijacked by hackers rocketed in the first half of 2004, reveals a new report. An average of 30,000 computers per day were turned into enslaved "zombies", compared with just 2000 per day in 2003.

US computer security company Symantec says efforts to build so-called "botnets" - networks of zombies used to launch attacks on corporate websites or as anonymous relays for sending out spam - from hacked computers have intensified dramatically in recent months. The company's latest biannual report shows that recruitment of "zombie" machines peaked at 75,000 computers per day.

Jeremy Ward, service development manager at Symantec, says virus writers can make good money by selling botnets to online extortionists and spammers.

"What we're seeing now is malware, or malicious software, that is truly professional," Ward told New Scientist. "You have the ability to set up botnets for a number of money-making schemes."

Turf war

The Symantec report is based on information gathered from 20,000 network sensors based in 180 countries around the world. They also collected information from anti-virus software installed on desktop machines and corporate networks.

The study shows that overall virus activity increased between January and June 2004. In all, 4496 Windows computer viruses were released during this time - a fourfold increase on the same period the previous year.

Enlistment of zombie machines reached an all-time high during a turf war between two virus-writing groups in the first few months of 2004. Those behind the worms MyDoom and Bagle fought against the creator of the Netsky virus for ownership of the infected computers.

During this feud, a version of Netsky was released which was designed to deactivate the Bagle and MyDoom viruses within infected computers.

Draining resources

Richard Archdeacon, director of technical services at Symantec, adds that virus writers have developed new programming tricks to thwart current anti-virus scanning technology.

Anti-virus scanners examine the contents of files for pieces of data that match those of a known threat. Many viruses, for example, insert themselves at the beginning or end of code for a legitimate programme. Subscribe to New Scientist for more news and features

But recent strains of virus have made scanning more difficult. A virus called Impanate, for example, buries portions of its code in an unexpected region of a software file.

Another virus, known as Gastropod, rewrites its own code entirely between replications to complicate detection. Spotting these viruses requires considerably more computing power, draining system resources.

"These advanced infection mechanisms may render many traditional antivirus scanning techniques ineffective," Archdeacon says.

But law enforcers have also made progress. On 9 September, an 18-year-old German programmer was charged with creating Netsky and another worm, Sasser.

Dirty F · 09-27-2004, 11:41 AM

I wonder if one day the net will be useless because of all the spyware, trojans, viruses and spam. It wouldnt surprise me.

More Booze · 09-27-2004, 11:43 AM

People need to learn how to secure their computers...

Dirty F · 09-27-2004, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by More Booze
People need to learn how to secure their computers...

Its impossible to completely secure it. MS is always 1 step behind.

Manowar · 09-27-2004, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by More Booze
People need to learn how to secure their computers...

people will never learn

Adultnet · 09-27-2004, 12:59 PM

If this is true the hackers will face some problems soon...

jacked · 09-27-2004, 01:03 PM

dam this has always been a big problem virri are just making computers more and more vulnerable to "hackers"

mal · 09-27-2004, 01:04 PM

more proxies

Dirty F · 09-27-2004, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jacked
virri

Viruses

hova · 09-27-2004, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by More Booze
People need to learn how to secure their computers...

That will never happen, people are stupid

erehwon · 09-27-2004, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by More Booze
People need to learn how to secure their computers...

This will never happen, people need a financial reason to really secure their computers, tell them that they'll pay more for their internet dial-up and broadband if they DON'T have a firewall and anti-virus running on their computer and maybe they might start securing their machines.

It would be in the cable companies and internet service providers best interests to start doing this, but again, it will never happen.

Vitasoy · 09-27-2004, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Adultnet
If this is true the hackers will face some problems soon...

The smart ones, don't get caught

pornguy · 09-27-2004, 02:35 PM

Dont chase the spammers. Chase the guys making the zombies for them.

I think that very few of the mailers actually know how to do it them selves, or take the time. I think they just use someone esles stuff.

09-27-2004, 11:39 AM	#1
Greg B So Fucking Banned Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: EARTH (for the time being) Posts: 7,014	Zombie Computers!!! Thousands Of Zombie PCs Created Daily By Will Knight NewScientist.com 9-27-4 The rate at which personal computers are being hijacked by hackers rocketed in the first half of 2004, reveals a new report. An average of 30,000 computers per day were turned into enslaved "zombies", compared with just 2000 per day in 2003. US computer security company Symantec says efforts to build so-called "botnets" - networks of zombies used to launch attacks on corporate websites or as anonymous relays for sending out spam - from hacked computers have intensified dramatically in recent months. The company's latest biannual report shows that recruitment of "zombie" machines peaked at 75,000 computers per day. Jeremy Ward, service development manager at Symantec, says virus writers can make good money by selling botnets to online extortionists and spammers. "What we're seeing now is malware, or malicious software, that is truly professional," Ward told New Scientist. "You have the ability to set up botnets for a number of money-making schemes." Turf war The Symantec report is based on information gathered from 20,000 network sensors based in 180 countries around the world. They also collected information from anti-virus software installed on desktop machines and corporate networks. The study shows that overall virus activity increased between January and June 2004. In all, 4496 Windows computer viruses were released during this time - a fourfold increase on the same period the previous year. Enlistment of zombie machines reached an all-time high during a turf war between two virus-writing groups in the first few months of 2004. Those behind the worms MyDoom and Bagle fought against the creator of the Netsky virus for ownership of the infected computers. During this feud, a version of Netsky was released which was designed to deactivate the Bagle and MyDoom viruses within infected computers. Draining resources Richard Archdeacon, director of technical services at Symantec, adds that virus writers have developed new programming tricks to thwart current anti-virus scanning technology. Anti-virus scanners examine the contents of files for pieces of data that match those of a known threat. Many viruses, for example, insert themselves at the beginning or end of code for a legitimate programme. Subscribe to New Scientist for more news and features But recent strains of virus have made scanning more difficult. A virus called Impanate, for example, buries portions of its code in an unexpected region of a software file. Another virus, known as Gastropod, rewrites its own code entirely between replications to complicate detection. Spotting these viruses requires considerably more computing power, draining system resources. "These advanced infection mechanisms may render many traditional antivirus scanning techniques ineffective," Archdeacon says. But law enforcers have also made progress. On 9 September, an 18-year-old German programmer was charged with creating Netsky and another worm, Sasser.

09-27-2004, 12:59 PM	#6
Adultnet Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 8,713	If this is true the hackers will face some problems soon... __________________ TrafficCashGold Paying Webmasters Since 1996! Awesome Conversions! Fast Weekly Payments! Over 125 Tours!

09-27-2004, 01:03 PM	#7
jacked sperm tail Industry Role: Join Date: May 2004 Location: nj Posts: 11,019	dam this has always been a big problem virri are just making computers more and more vulnerable to "hackers" __________________ Got Cam Models? icq: 361-607-616

09-27-2004, 02:35 PM	#13
pornguy Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Homeless Posts: 62,911	Dont chase the spammers. Chase the guys making the zombies for them. I think that very few of the mailers actually know how to do it them selves, or take the time. I think they just use someone esles stuff. __________________ PornGuy skype me pornguy_epic AmateurDough The Hottes Shemales online! TChicks.com \| Angeles Cid \| Mariana Cordoba \| MAILERS WELCOME!

09-27-2004, 11:41 AM	#2
Dirty F Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 59,204	I wonder if one day the net will be useless because of all the spyware, trojans, viruses and spam. It wouldnt surprise me.

09-27-2004, 11:43 AM	#3
More Booze Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 5,116	People need to learn how to secure their computers...

09-27-2004, 01:04 PM	#8
mal Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,899	more proxies