Sunday, January 07, 2007

Attack of the Zombie Computers Is Growing Threat - New York Times

Stark reality check 

Security researchers have been concerned about botnets for some time because they automate and amplify the effects of viruses and other malicious programs.

What is new is the vastly escalating scale of the problem — and the precision with which some of the programs can scan computers for specific information, like corporate and personal data, to drain money from online bank accounts and stock brokerages.

Source: Attack of the Zombie Computers Is Growing Threat - New York Times

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The original NY Times article has a link to tips for safeguarding your computer. Yesterday, this link brought up a page with -- among other suggestions -- the rather surprising (for a mainstream news source) recommendation to consider Linux as an alternative to Windows. Today, clicking on the link brings up the message "We're sorry, but we are temporarily experiencing an authorization server error. Our systems administrators have been notified and are working to fix the problem."

One wonders if there is any connection between the mention of Linux and the present problems.

pbokelly said...

Interesting hypothesis... The article is back now, in any case.