Tech Directions - November 2007 - (Page 16)

mastering computers 2 Reid Goldsborough reidgold@netaxs.com Don’t Let Your PC Turn Into a Zombie Even the name is scary. Zombie. The most familiar meaning of the word zombie, made popular by Hollywood, is corpse that has come back to life. But another dictionary definition is “one who looks or behaves like an automaton.” That’s the definition that applies to computers. “botnet,” or network of robots, can also refer to a network of computers doing automated tasks for beneficial purposes. One such beneficial purpose is providing the support for Internet Relay Chat, which is a protocol for chatting over the Internet. But it’s the nefarious purposes that are more interesting. The most common nefarious purpose is the taking over of your and other PCs to send out spam on behalf of a scammer, who prefers to use you to do his dastardly deeds to keep from getting caught. The spam typically directs recipients to a “phishing” web site, which mimics a legitimate credit card site, bank site, Internet auction site, Internet payment site, or other business site, with the intention of tricking you into providing personal information. Using personal information such as your credit card information or Social Security number, the scammer then makes purchases in your name, empties your bank account or otherwise steals your identity. Another nefarious purpose that botnets are put to involves serving A What? A zombie is a computer that has been taken over by someone else via the Internet and that works like a robot on behalf of the person who has taken it over. The phenomenon is as interesting as it is frightening. Another term used in connection with zombies is botnet, which refers to a network of zombie computers that have been taken over, though Maybe the scariest purpose of all is using your PC as a zombie to turn other PCs into zombies too. . . . unwanted pop-up ads and other advertising on PCs and charging clients each time an ad is clicked on. Yet another involves using others’ PCs to launch “denial of service” attacks on big companies or government agencies, shutting down their 16 techdirections ◆ NOVEMBER 2007 http://www.testequipmentdepot.com

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Tech Directions - November 2007 Technically Speaking Contents Direct from Washington The News Report Technology’s Past Technology Today Mastering Computers Video Game Programmers Learn to “Pitch” Project Teaches Students to Diagnose an Ailing Windows OS See the Math with Your Binoculars! Fire Safety Technician ACTE Convention and Career Tech Expo Hands-On Activities More than Fun

Tech Directions - November 2007

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