Zombies

A Zombie Computer is a PC which is being controlled remotely by a Hacker. Computers become Zombies when a Hacker loads remote control software onto them by using a Virus or Malware/Spyware obtained unwittingly through the internet.

These Zombie PC's, when grouped together into a network by the Hackers, are known as Botnets. Botnets can be of varying sizes but in Oct 2005 they discovered a Botnet which had thousands of compromised PCs.

In the UK over 150,000 PC's a month are being taken over as Zombies by Hackers

What do the hackers use the Zombie PC for?

1) The hackers loads remote control Email Software onto the PCs and hires them out to the Spammers, to send out their Spam Email. Zombied PC's are the largest source of Spam Email today.

2) Keyboard Loggging and Screen Capture software are loaded on to the PC by the hackers, so that every keystroke the user types is captured and sent to the Hacker, along with Screen Shots. In this way hackers can obtain Banking Details and other Personal Information which can be used for Fraud and Identity Theft.

3) Thousands of Botnet PC's are used to attack an internet companies website similtaneously, thereby preventing ligitimate users accessing the site, the hackers then extort money from the company in exchange for stopping the attack.

4) Botnets are used to distribute Viruses and Spyware to other PC's and add them to the zombie network.