| If you run a Windows program on your PC, you may | | | | Some steps you can take to prevent your computer |
| have more to worry about than popup ads and other | | | | being captured and converted into a zombie include: |
| online annoyances. According to a Microsoft report | | | | |
| released in June, Backdoor Trojans are one of the | | | | 1. Keep your operating system up to date - Scan your |
| most common threats to internet users, and have the | | | | syst5em for missing security patches and install any |
| potential to put your computer in the hands of a | | | | new ones on a regular basis. |
| hacker. | | | | 2. Install the Windows Update tool to get automatic |
| A Backdoor Trojan is a group of Trojan horse | | | | updates to your Windows system. |
| programs that open a back door in the computer | | | | 3. Upgrade your operating system to its most current |
| system, allowing a hacker to access the computer | | | | version. Older software has a hard time keeping up |
| and use it as a zombie computer. A zombie is a | | | | with current security updates. |
| computer that is controlled by a hacker and can be | | | | 4. Always use a firewall. This is just standard. |
| used to perform malicious tasks remotely, without the | | | | 5. Educate yourself on all possible ways to contract a |
| knowledge of the computer's owner. For the most | | | | virus, Trojan, or worm, including through open ports as |
| part, zombie computers are used to perform actions | | | | well as email. |
| that the perpetrator would not want to have traced | | | | 6. Be vigilant about updating your antivirus software, |
| back to him. Hence, he performs the actions from the | | | | and remember to still take precautions against new |
| zombie computer, effectively covering his tracks. | | | | infections that antivirus companies may not be aware |
| Some of the more common actions a zombie can be | | | | of yet. Follow the common sense rule of avoiding |
| used for are: | | | | opening anything you don't recognize and running an up |
| 1. Spamming - Spamming involves the sending of | | | | to date security package. |
| massive amounts of spam emails through the zombie. | | | | If your computer is acting sluggish or slowing down |
| 2. Click fraud - An act in which the controller of the | | | | frequently, it is possible that it might be being used as a |
| zombie will use the zombie to click on a pay-per-click | | | | zombie computer. If you think this is the case, the best |
| ad, generating revenue for a third party. | | | | thing to do is disconnect it from the internet |
| 3. Distributed denial of service attacks - An attack that | | | | immediately and have it checked by a computer |
| makes a computer resource unavailable to its users, | | | | services organization. After the machine has been |
| either by forcing the computer to reset or consume its | | | | cleaned of possible viruses, worms, Trojan horses, |
| resources, or by obstructing the communication media | | | | spyware, and other malware, install and update your |
| between the intended users and the computer. | | | | antivirus and anti spyware software, firewall, and other |
| In the case of a zombie computer, all this and more | | | | security software. Make sure to change all passwords |
| can be perpetrated through a victim's computer | | | | you use online and on the computer, as they may |
| without the victim ever having knowledge of it. And, | | | | have been intercepted by the remote hacker. |
| according to a recent report by Cipher Trust, a New | | | | Zombie threats are only one of many possible ways |
| York-based messaging security company, a recent | | | | your computer may be corrupted if you are not vigilant |
| spread of Mocbot worm variants that exploit a | | | | about security. Taking extra precautions and using |
| Windows security flaw has caused a 23 percent rise | | | | common sense can help keep your computer from |
| in Cipher Trust's detection of zombie computers. | | | | falling prey to a remote hacker. |
| Microsoft has issued a patch for the flaw. | | | | |