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PhatBot Trojan Spreading Rapidly On Windows PCs

Posted by timothy on from the what-and-lose-all-my-pigeons dept.

prostoalex writes "The Washington Post alerts Windows users about a new peer-to-peer backdoor client that is installed maliciously on broadband-connected computers around Asia and the United States. The client is then used for distributed DOS attacks and sending out large amounts of spam. Phatbot, according to government sources, is installed on hundreds of thousands machines already. Phatbot snoops for passwords on infected computers and tries to disable firewall and antivirus software, albeit it is detectable by antivirus packages." An anonymous reader submits a link to this description of the beast.

9 of 645 comments (clear)

  1. Skynet by 3cents · · Score: 5, Funny

    How long before someone bootstraps a distributed Artificial life simulator to their virus and then we all watch in amazement as the first AI evolves and owns all our computers. This could never happen though...right?

    Slashrank

  2. anyone else think by Savatte · · Score: 5, Funny

    PhatBot Trojan would be a good name for a hip-hop group?

  3. Re:nice features list by Joe+U · · Score: 5, Funny

    I would really like to see a worm/virus/trojan that makes the user's hard drive rip itself out of the computer, beat the user with a bat and run screaming down the hall.

    Can someone code that feature?

    Seriously, I would love to see one of these programs that just turns the victims internet connection OFF. Granted, I don't think it would spread very well.

  4. Re:nice features list by EndlessNameless · · Score: 5, Funny

    :::# Checks to see if it is allowed to send mail to AOL, for spamming purposes:::

    Best. Feature. Ever.

    --

    ---
    According to the latest ruleset, this post should be modded as Vorpal Flamebait +5.
  5. Re:nice features list by bfg9000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    If only Microsoft gave us this much cool stuff with their godforsaken updates. I just KNOW Longhorn is gonna be WinXP with DRM (YAY!), just like XP was Win2000 with Prettiness Plus(TM), just like 2000 was WinNT with a blue default background, just like NT was Win98 with less games, just like 98 was Win95 with double the base install size, just like 95 was Win3.1 with less speed and stability, just like Win3.1 was DOS with a mouse.

    What better resume than a good virus or trojan?

    --

    I'm not normally an irrational zealous dickhead, but I figure "When in Rome..."

  6. Want to statr the revolution in a hurry? by beacher · · Score: 5, Funny

    1) Extract Windows product keys
    2) ???^H^H^H Email software keys to software@bsa.net and tell them that you think your employer is not running legitimate software. Include a paypal link for the reward
    3) Profit

    This bot looks NASTY.
    -B

  7. Lucky me by mixtape5 · · Score: 5, Funny

    is installed maliciously on broadband-connected computers...
    who knew that dial up internet was a form of virus protection? I dont feel so bad anymore!


    --
    WoW: Scheod 70 orc warlock on Shadowmoon
  8. Re:Is it just me... by CreatureComfort · · Score: 5, Funny


    The Register just had a story about how a lot of the new virii are as small as 12kb, and how you could almost silk screen the code for one onto an XL T-shirt.

    I would love to have a pair of boxers with this code printed on them, and in large letters overlaying the code, "Let's install my peer-to-peer backdoor client."

    --
    "Unheard of means only it's undreamed of yet,
    Impossible means not yet done." ~~ Julia Ecklar
  9. even better by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Have it grep the HD for pr0n keywords, and mail the results to Outlook's Adressbook. After that, nobody would think little of viruses ever again...
    (here in double-moral country, that is)