US-Generated ‘Bad Bots’ Attack Australian Computers

Arbor Networks, a cyber security vendor, reveals that the US happens to be the single largest generator of internet malicious content and its latest target have been computer servers in Australia, as reported by Theage on March 25, 2008.

Arbor Networks also discloses that China ranks second as the source of unwanted internet noise, which is generated by infected PCs that randomly scan other systems to spread the virus.

The Australian computers seem to be highly vulnerable to virus attacks emerging from the US and China. Computer systems in China and the US being protected by hi-tech computer technologies, more secure, while Australian computers lacking in sound security measures, are easily infected by internet malware.

Robert Malan, Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Arbor Networks, said that that some countries possess better infrastructure compared to others and are better equipped to patch their computer systems against online threats, as reported by SMH on March 26, 2008.

Mostly, network systems of thousands of infected computers are centrally controlled by virus programmers. They use these "bot networks" to send spam and infect other new systems. They also tinker with businesses by launching denial-of-service attacks.

Botnets, though not new, continue to bother businesses, internet carriers and also governments. Millions of uninfected computers stand the risk of robotic malware programs. A large amount of spam mail today is sent through bot networks that consist of compromised computers owned by home users as well as business establishments.

Cyber crooks have mastered engineering denial-of-service attacks by direct thousands of bots to flood a chosen Website with junk requests, thereby, clogging the site and preventing genuine users from accessing the site. Such cyber-crooks intimidate to paralyze Websites of financial institutions, video game sites, and e-commerce enterprises, unless they are paid some protection money.

A bot attack can be easily launched through Google search because several botnets are listed online, ready for hire. In fact, some bot-herders offer high discounts for service because the market is huge. Arbor Networks informs that the number of botnets counting in several thousands has now doubled compared to last year.

Related article: US Passes Baton to Asia in Spam Relay

» SPAMfighter News - 4/2/2008