Indian Cybercriminals Creating Botnets and Networks to Compromise PCs

According to the recently released Microsoft's Security Intelligence Report version 9, Indian cybercrooks are increasingly devising techniques to create botnets and computer networks to target and compromising systems, circulate spam e-mails and viruses to other computers through them.

As per the report, India is on 25th position in terms of bot infections found and eliminated during the quarter ended-June 2010. The nation accounted for 38,954 computers with bots removed in the second quarter of 2010 compared to 37,895 computers in Q1-2010.

Commenting on this matter, Microsoft India Chief Security Officer, Sanjay Bahl stated that it was apparent that the cybercrooks worked hard to sustain and increase them for monetary profits. If it was an ordinary customer then the financial and information loss may not of a great amount, but the loss would be more severe if it was at the organizations or government levels, as reported by economic times on October 14, 2010.

Graham Titterington, Analyst at the research firm Ovum stated that it was clear that the development of the botnet was a main concern. Besides, considerable increase in infections globally, statistics from this year's report showed that cybercrooks were using more complicated methods like botnets to further target prospective victims, as reported by Hindustan Times on October 14, 2010.

Apart from Microsoft, security firm Sophos also highlighted India as the second largest spam relaying country in its 'Dirty Dozen' report for Q2-2010. According to the firm India accounted for 7.6% of the total spam in Q2-2010.

As per Microsoft, understanding the functioning of botnets is the first step towards safeguarding organizations and individuals from their danger, at both national and international level.

Finally, a strategy both offensive and defensive should be drafted to match up with the ongoing development of the botnet. Detecting botnets with the help of behavioral and static analysis and defense strategies are significant aspects of the battle against botnets.

Related article: Indian Financial Industry Facing Rising Online Fraud

» SPAMfighter News - 10/23/2010