Computer Security Company Takes Out Enormous Botnet
Posted 11/10/09 at 06:30:15 PM by Ryan Whitwam
Security firm FireEye has reportedly struck a massive blow against spam. The so called “Mega-D” or “Ozdok” spam botnet was effectively dismantled by these intrepid security researchers. After studying the beast, FireEye launched an attack by notifying ISPs, having command and control (CnC) domains removed, and then registering unused CnC domains.
Almost immediately, the spam ceased. No small feat, considering Ozdok was probably responsible for one third of the world’s spam. This takes the load off ISPs which were forced to filter the spam from this botnet. Individual users probably won’t notice much difference.
FireEye found that over 246,000 zombie machines were reporting to the CnC domains in their possession after the takedown. The security firm plans to work with ISPs to indentify the owners of the PCs so they may remove the malicious software.
If someone had told me 20 years ago..
Submitted by JohnP on Wed, 11/11/2009 - 1:37pm
That we would be fighting computerized control of a hundred thousand zombie machines spitting out viral advertising with teams of international computer scientists writing world wide kill routines...
Submitted by GoldenMonkey on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 11:04pm
Bravo and many thanks to FireEye!
Submitted by GoldenMonkey on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 11:07pm
Can we ban this fool?
Submitted by lhatten on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 7:58pm
The most important thing is for the ISPs to notify their customers to clean their PCs. I think more effort should go into finding zombies and informing the user to clean up their PCs or loose connection.
Submitted by n0ctis on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 7:33pm
While this one definitely goes down in the "Awesome" column, this was a has-been botnet that only accounts for 4% of the current spam flux (a far cry from its once 33.3~%).
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.: vires et honos :.
Submitted by 1337Goose on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 6:06pm
Kudos to Fire Eye...
~Goose
Submitted by DBsantos77 on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 6:03pm
It'slikek some crazy spy movie.
-Santos
zombie machines
Submitted by nekollx on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 5:59pm
byyyyytes
byyyytesssss
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
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