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more on Hackers Hijack PC's for Sex Sites
From: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 09:11:13 -0400
------ Forwarded Message From: Rich Kulawiec <rsk () gsp org> Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 09:04:56 -0400 To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net> Cc: "John F. McMullen" <observer () westnet com> Subject: Re: [IP] Hackers Hijack PC's for Sex Sites
More than a thousand unsuspecting Internet users around the world have recently had their computers hijacked by hackers, who computer security experts say are using them for pornographic Web sites.
This is the tip of the iceberg. There are hundreds of thousands of systems (mostly on cable/DSL connections) out there which have either already been hijacked, or are hijack-ready, and are being used as a distributed spamplifier. The hijack method is a virus/worm which creates exploitable open proxies on the target system. Spammers then use these systems (and their broadband connections) to send millions of spams very rapidly. The companies which operate these networks (Comcast, Verizon, etc.) are either unable or unwilling to make any attempt to address these issues, which is why various DNSBLs have been created so that folks can defend themselves. To give you an idea of the scope of the problem: I happen to have logs from 4 small mail servers with me today (because I'm investigating something else). I see that thus far in 2003, there have been about 37,960 spam attempts from about 12,200 distinct systems inside Comcast's cable network alone. Add Verizon and PacBell and all the other cable/DSL providers (and for good measure, the dialups) and you'll have some idea about how enormous this problem is. Windows + incompetent/negligent broadband ISPs = happy spammers. ---Rsk ------ End of Forwarded Message ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as interesting-people () lists elistx com To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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