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IP: Hackers Turn to Home Computers
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Fri, 04 Jan 2002 06:31:25 -0500
From: "Bill Sodeman" <bill () sodeman com> To: <farber () cis upenn edu> Subject: Hackers Turn to Home Computers http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/ap/20020103/bs/hacking_home_computers_2.h tml By D. IAN HOPPER, AP Technology Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - Computer hackers, once satisfied to test their skills on large companies, are turning their sights on home computers that are faster, more powerful and less secure than ever before. The hackers can steal your identity, destroy your data or use your computer to launch attacks on Web sites or your friends. "Home machines weren't very interesting targets a few years ago," said Mikko Hypponen of antivirus company F-Secure in Finland. ``That's all changed now." Experts attribute the threat to several factors: -Many home computers are now as powerful as business computers, with enough memory and processing power to make them alluring staging areas for wide-scale Internet attacks that affect other computers. -A growing number are connected directly to the Internet through high-speed DSL and cable lines that remain open all the time. Computers that are left on around the clock are vulnerable. -Unlike businesses with permanent security staff, most home users are slow to secure their computers with the latest antivirus and firewall software and to plug security holes by downloading the necessary fixes from software makers such as Microsoft. -Many home users are unaware of Internet threats and are too willing to click on unsolicited e-mails that might be infected with malicious programs. "Home users have generally been the least prepared to defend against attacks, "Carnegie Mellon University's CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) Coordination Center warns. "In many cases, these machines are then used by intruders to launch attacks against other organizations." <snip>
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