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Searching for Botnet Command & Controls

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the i-want-them-alive-no-disintegrations dept.

Orange Eater writes "eWeek has a story about a group of high-profile security researchers intensifying the search for the command-and-control infrastructure used to power botnets for malicious use. The idea is to open up a new reporting mechanism for ISPs and IT administrators to report botnet activity." From the article: "Operating under the theory that if you kill the head, the body will follow, a group of high-profile security researchers is ramping up efforts to find and disable the command-and-control infrastructure that powers millions of zombie drone machines, or bots, hijacked by malicious hackers."

11 of 114 comments (clear)

  1. I'm not a virus, lol. really by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    DCC SEND "ircsucks" 0 0
    stopkeylogger
    startkeylogger
    stopspy

  2. Grammer Nazi! by Schitzoflink · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    a group of high-profile security researchers is ramping up

    Isn't it He is ramping , they are ramping ?

    --
    Mr. T carries a postage stamp in his wallet at all times on the back is a list of all the fools he doesn't pity
    1. Re:Grammer Nazi! by TerranFury · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      'Group' is singular; the group is ramping up.

      However, it's true that there are different conventions on each side of the Atlantic for things like this, which may confuse things. In the U.S., Microsoft is developing Vista; in the U.K; they are. Does that affect words like 'group?' Anyone from the UK to comment?

    2. Re:Grammer Nazi! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Of course, there's also the misspelling of grammar. :)

    3. Re:Grammer Nazi! by db32 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      You have been defeated by a Grammar Allied Force.

      --
      The only change I can believe in is what I find in my couch cushions.
    4. Re:Grammer Nazi! by MrNaz · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      When conjugating "to be" for plural or singular you take the plurality of the subject. As the subject in this case is a collective noun, "group", it may seem that "are" is the appropriate form. But "group" is a singular collective noun, as dinstinct from "groups" for multiple groups. Because the noun "group" is singular, the singular conjugation of the "to be" verb is used, that being "is".

      Here are some examples:

      RIGHT: The group is stupid.
      WRONG: The group are stupid.

      RIGHT: The bunch of grapes is rotten.
      WRONG: The bunch of grapes are rotten.

      RIGHT: The Slashdot crowd is bad at grammar.
      WRONG: The Slashdot crowd are bad at grammar.

      There are cases that may *appear* to be exceptions, and the one that comes to mind is that of the noun "people". People is plural for "person" and appears to be a singular collective noun just like group. However "people", as well as being a singular collective noun, (with plural form being "peoples", often used when referring to multiple distinct groups of people) is also a true plural of "person" ("persons" is not accepted as the correct word, although its use is becoming accepted into contemporary English):

      RIGHT: "The group is screwed."
      WRONG: "The people is screwed."

      RIGHT: "The people are screwed."
      WRONG: "The group are screwed."

      Questions?

      --
      I hate printers.
    5. Re:Grammer Nazi! by LordSnooty · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Sigh. Only on Slashdot etc. etc.

    6. Re:Grammer Nazi! by Threni · · Score: 1, Offtopic

      > In the U.S., Microsoft is developing Vista; in the U.K; they are. Does that
      > affect words like 'group?' Anyone from the UK to comment?

      I've seen/heard both.

      A quick Google reviews this:
      http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/radio_newsro om/1099593.stm
      -----
      Collective nouns
      can be singular or plural. The only rule is: you must be consistent. "Marks and Spencer is selling a new biscuit. They say it's the best ever made" is the type of rubbish we broadcast far too often. In a sporting context, teams are always plural: "England are in the soup", "Manchester United are finished", "Wales are resurgent".

      Half
      can be singular or plural: half the oranges were eaten; half the food was eaten.

      Plurals
      the media remain plural, agenda has become singular. Refrain from unnecessary Latin plurals: call them referendums, formulas. The singular of "criteria" is "criterion". While on the subject, to write: "One in twenty people believe the world is about to end" is wrong; even if that one in twenty IS right.

      -----

      (I don't understand that last sentence...)

    7. Re:Grammer Nazi! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
      While on the subject, to write: "One in twenty people believe the world is about to end" is wrong; even if that one in twenty IS right.

      (I don't understand that last sentence...)

      For what it's worth, the poorly-worded point is to note the difference between "One in twenty people believe.." versus "One in twenty people believes..." in that context. The "in twenty people" part is a prepositional phrase, so it doesn't count as the subject for the verb. So "one ... believes" is correct.

  3. Re:What I don't understand by db32 · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Does a bear shit in the woods?

    --
    The only change I can believe in is what I find in my couch cushions.
  4. Re:"Botmaster"...err Keymaster? by Dareth · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Original Ghostbusters movie... and Sigourney Weaver is still HOT! Alien infested or not.

    --

    I only look human.
    My mother is a halfling and my dad is an ogre, so that makes me an Ogreling