Zombie Computers Roam The Internet
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Computers Technology -> subcategory Web Development.
Zombie Computers Roaming the Internet
Summary
Malware, encompassing viruses and spyware, is a persistent threat to computer users worldwide, evolving continuously in its complexity. A recent form of malware, which involves hijacking computers through viruses or trojans to be remotely controlled by hackers, is gaining traction. These compromised machines, known as "zombie computers," are exploited for various malicious activities, often unbeknownst to the owners.Article
Malware, which includes spyware and viruses, is so prevalent that nearly everyone is familiar with it. These pesky programs have been troubling computer users for years, and they seem to be growing more powerful with each passing day. A new form of malware is becoming increasingly common?"it involves using a virus or trojan horse to place a computer under the remote control of a hacker. This hijacked computer is called a "zombie" and is manipulated to carry out various malicious acts without the owner's awareness.
Zombie computers typically connect to the Internet through high-speed connections like DSL or satellite Internet. This connectivity is crucial because spammers utilize these zombie computers to send out mass spam emails, effectively avoiding detection. By 2005, it was estimated that as much as 80% of all spam was dispatched via zombie computers, and this number continues to rise.
While smarter hackers and enhanced technology contribute to this increase, the real driving forces are improved spam filters and anti-spam legislation. According to Tom Spring from PC World Magazine, spammers are hiring virus creators and hackers to create extensive zombie PC networks to disseminate spam. This collaboration between hackers and spammers has proven lucrative, generating new revenue streams that are challenging to disrupt.
Gregg Mastoras, a senior security analyst at Sophos, notes, "A new underground economy is evolving." This economy, largely illegal, is nearly impossible to eradicate completely.
Recently, Chinese hackers have advanced this trend further. As Senior Pentagon Advisor Paul Strassmann highlighted, by September 14, 2007, there were precisely 735,598 computers in the United States infected with Chinese-controlled zombies.
These large zombie networks form what's known as a botnet?"a network of compromised computers. Botnets can distribute millions of spam emails swiftly and are also used to execute Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. In a DoS attack, a targeted website is overwhelmed with information requests, overloading the server until it can no longer function. While these attacks are not covert and can be easily detected and shut down, they do temporarily disrupt site traffic. Larger, more sophisticated networks, such as those managed by governments or large corporations, have defenses in place to mitigate damage from such attacks.
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