BBC team exposes cyber crime risk

[Frands]

Hi :)

FYI:

Software used to control thousands of home computers has been acquired online by the BBC as part of an investigation into global cyber crime.

The technology programme Click has demonstrated just how at risk PCs are of being taken over by hackers.

Almost 22,000 computers made up Click's network of hijacked machines, which has now been disabled.

The BBC has now warned users that their PCs are infected, and advised them on how to make their systems more secure.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/7932816.stm


note:
This report will be broadcast(ed) in this week's edition of Click on Saturday 14 March at 1130 GMT on the BBC News Channel.

[Corrine]

This certainly stirred up a lot of controversy.  Personally, I agree that BBC was wrong.  Was BBC Use of Botnet Against UK Law?

[Paddy]

 :thud:

If this exercise had been done with criminal intent it would be breaking the law.

Strange way to prove a point.

:blink:

The BBC has now warned users that their PCs are infected, and advised them on how to make their systems more secure.

:wasntme:

But a botnet can also be used to launch a concerted attack on commercial websites to take them out of action.

Hefty ransom

By prior agreement, Click launched a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack on a backup site owned by security company Prevx.

Click then ordered its slave PCs to bombard its target site with requests for access to make it inaccessible.

Amazingly, it took only 60 machines to overload the site's bandwidth.

DDoS attacks are used by extortionists who threaten to knock a site offline unless a hefty ransom is paid.

Paddy.. :stupid:

[Paddy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/7938201.stm

For a short time in February, I had complete control over 21,696 personal computers around the world.
These were machines whose owners had not taken the basic security precautions necessary to stay safe online.


While their owners were busy checking their e-mails, or playing Solitaire, or doing their accounts, I could have made their computers do anything I wanted without anyone knowing.

Paddy... :thud:

[Eric the Red]

http://www.scmagazineuk.com/BBC-may-face-legal-challenges-over-Click-programmes-hacking-feature/article/128741/

[Frands]

I was watching this Click programme on BBC World about this issue very early this morning. It is pretty interesting but also I find it a bit scary. It is the whole report:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_4970000/newsid_4977500/4977542.stm?bw=nb&mp=wm&news=1&ms3=6&ms_javascript=true&nol_storyid=4977542&bbcws=2