Botnets Grow in Size and Sophistication Botnets, networks of
thousands of computers used to spread malware, have become the
hottest commodity of cyber criminals. Malicious code, as
dangerous as it is, has taken a back seat to the means to
deliver it. As a result, hackers and spammers are no longer the
sole leading figures responsible for perpetrating cyber crime.
Botnet controllers are responsible for pulling the strings of an
increasingly professional and sophisticated cyber crime
community. Emerging as a new serious brand of player, they are
threatening the very openness of the Internet that we have come
to take for granted. Botnets have the ability to attack the
Internet en masse. As a result, the frequency and complexity of
attacks is escalating. Another contributing factor is the
professionalism displayed by the cyber criminals. An example of
this was recently reported on PC World. Security firm Panda
Software discovered an innovative application called Zunker,
which was used to control and monitor botne