The Windows machines are harvested again by others.
Bots are a result of MS Windows period.
Three arrested over 12.7m PC botnet
Summary
Authorities in Spain have arrested three men accused of operating a massive botnet which stole credit card and bank log-in data and infected computers in half the Fortune 1,000 companies.
Topics
Authorities in Spain have arrested three men accused of operating a massive botnet composed of 12.7 million PCs, which stole credit card and bank log-in data and infected computers in half the Fortune 1,000 companies and more than 40 banks, according to published reports.
The botnet 'Mariposa', which means butterfly in Spanish, first appeared in December 2008 and grew to be one of the largest botnets ever, The Associated Press reported. It spread the worm via removable drives, MSN Messenger and peer-to-peer programs, and targeted Windows XP and older systems.
Unlike many underground hackers, the alleged ringleaders of the operation were not skilled programmers, but had contacts who were, authorities said.
For more on this story, read Spain arrests three accused of running huge botnet on CNET News.
Talkback Most Recent of 31 Talkback(s)
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tux_engineer03/03/2010 07:02 AM -
Yes that is what happens when you have a 1.3 BILLION userbase
It comes with the territory. Something that a loser OS like Linux will never experience.
Qbt03/03/2010 08:34 AM -
The funny part
is that the article clearly states it targets Windows XP machines, yet the linux fanboys still have to point it out as if people can't read for themselves.
Loverock Davidson03/03/2010 09:35 AM -
Wrong. But thanks for playing.
Bots are a result of MS Windows period.
Wrong. Bots are a result of criminals period.
James T. Kirk03/03/2010 09:52 AM -
Check your Linux server, it's part of the botnet too.
with you as a tux engineer, how is it everyone else knows more about security on Linux then you do?
John Zern03/03/2010 10:55 AM -
You misunderstand, John.
It's got nothing to do with OSes.
He sews tuxedos for proms, weddings and bar mitzvahs.James T. Kirk03/03/2010 11:27 AM -
Erroneous specification
Suggesting that only Linux servers are involved is wrong. Linux desktops would be as well.
dmr8062003/03/2010 11:54 AM -
jgwinner03/03/2010 11:21 AM -
This is what happens...
when you promote piracy and outdated OS's in an effort to
contain the Linux tide.
Add to that the fact that even the fully patched latest
version of the OS is seriously vulnerable and you have
created the perfet security storm.
Great Kahuna03/03/2010 07:41 AM -
James T. Kirk03/03/2010 09:53 AM
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John Zern03/03/2010 10:53 AM
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djmik03/03/2010 12:26 PM -
If you are going to engage in hyperbole...
Why not call it a tsunami?
You and others like you actually hurt FOSS
and Linux when you make such statements. Don't you
understand that you are exposing yourself and the
Linux community as a whole to ridicule?
djchandler(Edited: 03/03/2010 02:54 PM) -
Sloppy Journalism
Interesting that journalists don't tell us whether or not it os only microsoft machines or all machines. Why is that? Is it because they don't know, or that they can't tell, or that they don't see important security information as relevant?
thedavidmckenzie03/03/2010 12:59 PM -
It is obvious: Botnets make no sense on loser OSes
Do we have to spell it out to you again? Loser OSes with pathetic marketshare numbers make lousy botnets.
Which part of that confuses you?
If anything, the title only mentions "PC", when in fact it could have said "XP". But that would not have been very dramatic and would have brought fewer clicks.
You know, XP as in a 9 year old and two versions behind OS?Qbt(Edited: 03/03/2010 02:30 PM)
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