more on Attack of the Zombie Computers Is a Growing Threat, Experts Say

Begin forwarded message:

From: Udhay Shankar N <[email protected]>
Date: January 7, 2007 7:07:02 AM EST
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [IP] Attack of the Zombie Computers Is a Growing Threat,  
Experts Say

At 05:54 AM 1/7/2007, David Farber wrote:

> With growing sophistication, they are taking advantage of programs
> that secretly install themselves on thousands or even millions of
> personal computers, band these computers together into an unwitting
> army of zombies, and use the collective power of the dragooned
> network to commit Internet crimes.

All of which is possible only because insecure systems are made  
available to unwitting users. Bruce Schneier has it right when he  
says that "The only way to fix this problem is for vendors to fix  
their software, and they won't do it until it's in their financial  
best interests to do so." i.e., there needs to be financial liability  
involved, like in the credit card business.

One example of Schneier's thoughts on this issue is here:

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2004/11/computer_securi.html

Udhay


-- 
((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))



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