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Attack of zombie computers latest threat to Internet »

Posted by: populist 2 years, 10 months ago

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David Dagon, a Georgia Institute of Technology researcher who is a co-founder of Damballa, a start-up company focusing on controlling botnets, said the consensus among scientists is that botnet programs are present on about 11 percent...

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Comments: 16

Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)
blksentra2
Jan. 7, 2007, 10:13 p.m.
They say there have been reports of these bots on Macintosh and Linux systems. But I doubt that the threat is no where near as bad as Windows based machines.
It's not only the low level of the market-share apple has that keeps it safe, it is also the complexity of the OS X operating system and the fact that every couple of years they keep reinforcing that security with major "cat-like" upgrades.
However, Windows Vista is supposed to have this same level of security, but it also has millions of hackers possibly already working on new viruses for it.
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JustCallMeV
Jan. 8, 2007, 12:40 a.m.
Begining of AI? The fore runner of the Matrix?
-V-
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ohravenousone
Jan. 7, 2007, 4:29 p.m.
What I wanna know is if we shoot them in the head can we kill them.....grabs mossberg....cackle

1 Reply
- Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)
  RubberDuck
  Jan. 7, 2007, 4:57 p.m.
  You make a great point there. lol
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WorkerSS
Jan. 7, 2007, 5:39 p.m.
Maybe we could shut down the series of tubes that lead to the internets ?
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Star_Poet
Jan. 7, 2007, 6:41 p.m.
I saw one of those things take thirty rounds... and it just kept on coming... until it took one to the head. That put it down.
Zombies!! Run!!
Avg rating: (+8/-0 8)
tchef
Jan. 7, 2007, 7:41 p.m.
Memory, must eat memory!!
Avg rating: (+11/-2 9)
1-2-Oscar
Jan. 7, 2007, 9:29 p.m.
Perhaps David Dagon is trying to drum up interest in his new company. Is an IPO in the works?
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jordan11
Jan. 7, 2007, 10:57 p.m.
I've only ever owned Mac's. But haven't a clue why they're not plagued by virus's. I like them, because they're user friendly. HATE the computers at the office. Soooo complicated.
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mivan4
Jan. 7, 2007, 11:13 p.m.
Both Macs Os X and linux run on a Kernel based on Unix
which seperates the root directory from the system AT&T developed this with security in mind, but had to give it
away during their court ordered monopoly break up that is how
it became a open source os. There are other excellent OS's
also based on unix Sun Micro systems SOLARIS and Hewlet Packards MPE. Sun is best and is expensive. IBM also
has their own and is in a class all by itself. Anyway
Microsoft grew out of a IBM cast off called DOS. To stay
compatible with earlier Microsoft OS's Microsoft had to make
compromising decisions if they wanted to add user friendly
features. For full understanding in the differences might
I suggest a Computer Science degree.
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theskyisoutthere
Jan. 7, 2007, 11:38 p.m.
Macs don't get viruses like windows computer simply because they arn't written for mac because there is not as many out there. So as far as being better for that sadly no. All systems have weaknesses however with some many out there they get exposed more. pluss who wants to hack someones mac anyhow maybe they want to steal here I movies of there fam. Ha ha yea right. I run a few systems here and unix/ windows dual system i run for my cnc sadly to say i got that hit once with while looking for some inspiration on a prodject and it hurt both systems soo there is no Safe computer. and the more the software restrictions we get the worse the experience will be. (ex. windows vista more secure but another upgrade and firewall crap to sort out if your internet apps don't work or maybe your works vpn connections.) Viruses hurt the unprepaired anyhow. SPEND MONEY ON SAFETY. That drives our economy anyhow!
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Blackadder1964
Jan. 8, 2007, 12:26 a.m.
Being a computer dabbler since the mid 80s I have seen many virus's come and go even for my (not so common) Amiga (god I'm old) which had a completely different system to either mac or PC. So being a smaller target, is not a protection. Since I removed all email setups from my home computer and started using a remote system like Netscape 'or Yahoo' for email I haven't had a problem, my home pc dosen't use virus programs.
My work PC has virus protection and uses outlook (I don't have a say in this) has been hit by 5 or 6 virus's in the last six months.
Several thing I have found to help are
(1) don't use explorer
(2) use remote email like Netscape or Yahoo, this has the added benefit if you change isp's you don't have to change any setups.
(3) always respond to emails requesting bank info with fake, but plausible, info. If 'they' got millions of replies they would never be able to find the few poor people who are tricked.