Storm worm” adds millions of computers to botnet
The storm worm has built a botnet of perhaps as many as 10 million PCs using a revolving strategy of current events and eye-grabbing “headlines” to lure victims into what may be the single largest operating botnet. Major security players like Symantec have commented on the situation.
Anti Virus, Anti Spam, Anti Spyware, Oh My!
An evil internet gang called the “Zhelatin gang, named after the Trojan they drop on your system, is hell bent to create the largest botnet, or network of robot programs the Gang control remotely on PC’s, ever. Us meaties better use all we have to defend against the bots because this is shaping up to be WW III Meaties vs. Bots!
What can a user do?
Well the top thing people can do at home or in their corporate environment is adhere to a security plan that is either personal or their corporate plan. Personally and professionally make certain you are running current and updated daily anti virus, anti spyware, anti spam, personal firewalls and a lot of common sense. Almost all of these emails are grandiose in nature and use “Social Engineer”. SE is when they pique your curiosity with a subject line like “Big Storms in Europe”, “Sadam Husein is really alive” or photos of your favorite stars doing things they should not be.
The users is encouraged to click the link and it takes you to a site, that without proper protection, loads a bot onto your system unknowingly. Businesses are encourage to have a strong security system in place, strong corporate security policy, strong and regular back-ups and strong employee education. A little bit of prevention goes a long way here.
But I have Anti Virus, Anti Spyware and Anti Spam…
Still be very careful. Do not ever open emails that you cannot verify come from someone you know or a source like a subscription service you have signed up for. These emails are usually rudimentary and it is a shame that users fall for them, but they do. Be ever vigilant because your personal identity and your employer rely upon it!
Michael Rowles
Internet Elliot Ness
