Zombie Computers Abound
There are literally hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of zombie computers. Be sure to read on because YOUR COMPUTER may be one of them. Creating zombies out of computers used by average people around the world has become one of the latest tools used by computer hackers, unscrupulous marketers, and other malicious evil-doers.
A computer becomes a zombie when it performs tasks as instructed by someone other than the computer owner. The instructions given to the zombie usually involve distributing information to other computers, which the zombie computer does without notifying the owner. In every spare moment, a zombie computer is sending out data, most of which is spam that tries to get someone to purchase something.
Some of this data can also be sent to other computers as a massive attack that is meant to overwhelm another computer and shut it down. Attacks of this nature have been mounted against corporations like Microsoft as well as other corporate and governmental entities. Since the attackers can control thousands of computers, these attacks can be devastating.
Zombie computers have become a serious and widespread problem. It is estimated that between 50% and 80% of today's spam is being sent by zombie computers.
Here's how it works. Viruses are used to penetrate the computer of an unsuspecting victim. The virus can be from an email attachment or it can be downloaded from the Internet with another program. Zombies are often created from a type of virus called a Trojan horse. Like the wooden horse the Trojans believed to be a gift but later found filled with Greek soldiers, this type of virus invisibly piggy-backs on another program or virus. Once the Trojan is in your computer, it gives your computer instructions to perform a malicious task. Your computer, like a zombie, follows the instructions it is given.
Some people find out that their computer has been commandeered when they get a letter from their Internet Service Provider accusing them of spamming. You don't want to let it get that far.
There are several steps that you can take to prevent your computer from being turned into a zombie:
- Install a good antivirus program and make sure you update it regularly.
- Install a good two-way firewall. It will notify you when information is being sent from your computer. Unfortunately the Windows XP firewall is not adequate for this purpose.
- Update your operating system and other software regularly.
- Use an anti-spyware program to eliminate spyware on your system.
- Often one of the first instructions given to a zombie computer is to disable the antivirus and firewall software. So check your antivirus and firewall software occasionally to make sure they are running properly.
- Be careful not to open unexpected email attachments.
- Be careful when downloading software. Use only reputable companies and be sure to read every screen as you download and install any software.
For more information on viruses, spyware, and firewalls, check out my previous articles:
- How to Recognize a Virus
- How To Update you Antivirus Software
- How to Update Windows
- Handling Spyware
- Firewalls Explained
Watch for these warning signs that your computer may be infected:
- The computer seems sluggish.
- The computer seems to be accessing the hard drive constantly.
- The mouse or keyboard becomes unresponsive.
- You get excessive bounce notification from people you never tried to email.
All of these warning signs can also be symptoms of other computer problems, but if you see any of them you should investigate. For more information on zombie computers and spam, check out the FTC's Operation Spam Zombies web site. And as always, "Be careful out there!"
