Zombie (internet)

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In information technology , the term zombie or bot describes a computer connected to the Internet that is controlled and remotely controlled by hackers using worms , viruses or " Trojans " , usually without the user noticing. A network of remote-controlled computers is called a " botnet ", "zombie network" or "zombie farm".

The hijacking of PCs is favored by the fact that users do not install virus protection programs or incorrectly configure their firewalls and that operating systems or installed software have security gaps that are not eliminated for a long time. Small systems that are connected to the Internet (such as Raspberry Pi, Banana Pi, but also surveillance cameras and smart home devices) are also affected. These are often delivered with standard login data (such as user: pi, password: raspberry), which are known and should therefore be changed immediately.

These groups of hijacked zombie computers are used by the operators of botnets for illegal activities or rented to clients, among other things for the distribution of spam emails and for attacks on Internet servers via denial of service , for hijacking other computers, for spying out access data via phishing or to cover up the starting point of attacks.

The number of zombie associations is estimated at three-digit millions. Mostly computers with the Microsoft Windows operating system are affected . Vinton Cerf , who was involved in the development of the Internet protocol TCP / IP , assumes that 100 to 150 million computers connected to the Internet will be affected. Similarly, a manufacturer of security software , McAfee , estimates the proportion of infected computers at around 25%, which corresponds to around 150 million computers. The lowest estimates are around 10%, which would affect around 60 million computers. To protect against such attacks, specialist editors recommend appropriate anti-virus software and regular security updates; hardening of the operating system for security-relevant applications .

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ economy botnets - a million dollar business for cybercriminals Viruslist.com of 22 July 2009
  2. ↑ a b c Frank Ziemann: Every fourth Internet PC is a zombie? PC-Welt, January 30, 2007, archived from the original on January 18, 2012 ; Retrieved August 23, 2008 .

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