A Vunerable Internet
Connection exists if
your computer operating
system and/or Web browser
software is not properly
patched or secured behind a
firewall, leaving you
vulnerable to attack. Your
computer can be compromised
by automated tools that scan
and search for vulnerable
systems in which to exploit.
Compromised systems can
be either the Web servers
that host Web sites or your
Internet connected PC.
Criminals compromise
computers by installing
viruses, trojan horses and
crimeware. These programs
can be used to turn your
computer into a spamming
server or to monitor your
online activity to gain
access to personal
information. A non-properly
patch computer or
non-firewall computer can be
found and attacked within
minutes of going online!
More systems are being
compromised by automated
tools that scan (Mass
Scanning) and search for
vulnerable systems in which
to exploit. Compromised
systems can be either the
Web servers that host Web
sites or broadband connected
PCs, which have been
compromised, and where a web
server has been set up. With
automated techniques
criminals scan specific
network ranges searching for
computers that do not have a
firewall or are not properly
patched. Once the criminals
compromise a computer, they
install a so called IRC BOT
- also called zombie or
drone - on it.
Networks of computers
"hijacked" by malicious code
are called BOTNETS. BOTNETS
can be used as a super
computer to attack Web sites
or for stealing information
and identity theft. In
addition, the horsepower of
botnets can host phishing
Web sites, spam millions of
users, distribute malicious
code or be used to sell or
extort companies with Denial
Of Service attacks.