Spam zombies give UK ISP's the fear

The potential disruption of service and risk posed by compromised, zombie PCs spewing spam is putting fear in UK ISPs, according to a survey conducted by security firm StreamShield Networks.

A massive 96 per cent of 50 ISP respondents cited the proliferation of botnets - networks of virus-infected PCs under the control of hackers - as a key business issue.

According to industry analyst firm Gartner, seven in 10 items of spam originate from infected PCs.

Other items high on the agenda include the difficulties ISPs face in differentiating services from competitors, finding fresh sources of revenue, and addressing user concerns about the security of their services.

» The Register - John Leyden - 07-07-2006