Organised Cyber Crime in our backyard, and in your computer
Media release
Internet Safety Group
30 November 2007
This week’s move by the FBI and NZ Police to shut down a massive computer BotNet, controlled from New Zealand, is a timely reminder that large scale cyber based organised crime is not something that only happens “over there”. Although this is the first time a New Zealander has been arrested as the BotNet controller (“Bot Herder”), many New Zealanders will already unknowingly have been recruited into a Botnet and involved in Botnet activities.
“Computers compromised as part of a BotNet do not normally show any outward signs of infection because the criminals controlling the computer do not want to alert the computer owner to their presence. Your computer could be infected and remotely controllable now –and you wouldn’t necessarily know” says Martin Cocker, Executive Director at NetSafe.
Once compromised and recruited into a Botnet, a computer is accessible and remotely controllable across the internet. The Bot computer can be used to carry out illegal activity such as sending spam, storing illegal content or stolen information, or attacking other computers or networks. It can also be ordered to report back important information including banking details to the Botnet controller.
“It is important that New Zealanders take precautions to prevent their computer being recruited into a BotNet. Just as we lock our doors to protect our valuables, we can take precautions that make breaking into our computer much more difficult” says Cocker.
Securing your computer (The “Net Basics” – more information at www.netsafe.org.nz)
• Install and activate a Firewall
• Install both Antivirus and Anti-spyware software (some products do both)
• Keep all software on your computer up to date – especially the operating system and security software.
About BotNets
• A Bot computer is infected with a piece of code that enables it to be remotely controlled by a hacker. Botnet is the term used to describe multiple computers controlled from a single computer or person known as a Bot Herder.
• Symantec reported a 30% surge in observable BotNet activity during 2006.
• The January to June 07 Symantec Internet Security Threat report stated that they had observed 5,029,309 distinct bot-infected computers controlled by 4,622 command-and-control servers during this period.
• Home users were the most highly targeted sector, accounting for 95 percent of all targeted attacks.
• Because they are controlled across the Internet, Botnets are not constrained by geographical boundaries. The controller and the bot computers can be spread across the globe.
For further information contact
Martin Cocker (Executive Director)
(m) 021 790 369
(e) martinc@netsafe.org.nz
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