Save & Share |
|
|
|
|
| Share on Facebook | |
Follow these tips to keep your computer from entering the virtual land of the undead:
Don’t open any attachments whose contents are unknown - even if it came from friends or family.
Use a firewall, which monitors communication with outside computers, preventing unauthorized access to yours.
Install antivirus and antispyware software, which are sometimes available in one program. Regularly scan your computer.
Make sure you receive updates for your operating system, antivirus software and other programs (e.g. Microsoft Office). Check for updates on the company’s Web site or sign up to receive instant notification when new versions become available.
Don’t use pirated programs. The botnets often run illegally downloaded software, which are more prone to viruses.
Zombie computers expose users to identity theft, fraud
By Jessica Hall
Corpses roaming the streets and the dead coming to life – these are the images of zombies we all know and fear. So what exactly is a zombie computer? Is it a computer that crashed, but still turns on? Close, but not quite.
A zombie computer is one that has been taken over and is being controlled by a user other than the owner. The computer still functions, but it acts oddly – just like your everyday zombie.
The attacker can gain control of another computer through a virus, Trojan horse or by hacking into the computer. Abotnet, or group of zombie computers, is used to perform various malicious online acts such as sending spam e-mail, committing click fraud on pay-per-click ads and phishing.
Click fraud occurs when a zombie computer acts like a real person by clicking on an Internet ad. The difference is that while an actual person may have an interest in the ad, the zombie just wants to click to generate revenue.
Phishing is where a person or organization illegally obtains sensitive personal data frequently used in identity theft, which can ruin your credit (e.g. bank or credit card account information, social security number, etc).
Thanks to the ubiquity of the Internet, zombie computers are ever more prevalent. As the Internet generation grows and more people are constantly connected to the Web, the threat of identity theft and fraud constantly increases and becomes easier to accomplish.
Our computers are now our lifelines; they are our new best friends. And as a best friend, it is our job to keep an eye on their well-being. You will know that your computer turned into a zombie the same way you would know if your human best friend ever (miraculously) turned into one: They just don’t act like themselves.
If your computer continues to function but is sluggish or if it gives you weird messages, it may have turned into a zombie. But be aware that if your computer doesn’t work at all, that’s another situation entirely. For the botnet to work, it requires power and Internet access.
To find out if your computer has been compromised, run a virus scan to have the malicious software detected and removed. But, as with people, the best medicine is prevention.
Let us know what you think at outloud@outloud.com..