1 million computers compromised with botnets

[Amelia]

1 million computers compromised with botnets

By CRAIG EDWARDS, kgw.com staff

June 13, 2007

PORTLAND, Ore.- In its latest sweep designed to fight cyber-crime, the FBI has rounded up three major “bot-herders,” computer hackers who gained control of thousands, sometimes millions of computers remotely

Agents involved with Operation Bot Roast identified about one million computers that have been compromised by botnets, FBI leaders said. Botnets allow hackers, called bot-herders, to remotely control thousands of computers. Computer users can unknowingly become part of a botnet simply by logging onto to an infected web site or email.

Among those arrested in the sting was Robert Alan Soloway of Seattle. He was accused of using botnets to sent millions of spam messages touting his website. However, other uses can be malicious. Jason Michael Downey of Kentucky is charged with using botnets to purposely overwhelm computer systems, limiting their availability to others.

To help make your computer more secure, the FBI suggests using firewalls, along with strong and varying passwords.

If you think your computer has been compromised, you should call your internet service provider, agents said. The provider can then help you determine if your computer is part of a botnet.

[olger]

Good. May they catch more of these people and give them jail time, is my hope. Very good.