New Botnet Dwarfs Storm

ancientribe writes "Storm is no longer the world's largest botnet: Researchers at Damballa have discovered Kraken, a botnet of 400,000 zombies — twice the size of Storm. But even more disturbing is that it has infected machines at 50 of the Fortune 500, and is undetectable in over 80 percent of machines running antivirus software. Kraken appears to be evading detection by a combination of clever obfuscation techniques that hinder its detection and analysis by researchers."

Comments

Re:Scary

[Pojut]

Don't be ignorant, just because these programs say you haven't been infected, there's a non-trivial chance that you have been.

Hence why you don't click on random things and go to websites that could potentially be unsafe. It doesn't take much common sense to keep this stuff at bay...

To all the Linux fanboys

[DaveV1.0]

I know what you are going to say:

Windoze suxxors! It and people who use it should not be allowed on the interweb! They should all be using [insert linux distro] Linux! Then, they wouldn't have this problem!

Every time a story like this pops up, the Linux fanboys start spewing about how everyone should use Linux. Well, let me give you a dose of reality.

You say: Everyone should use Linux!
Reply: Make it easier for average users to use and they will.

You say: It is easy enough for me to use!
Reply: You are not an average user.

You say: They should learn to use it.
Reply: Why should they when the probably already know how to use Windows and if they don't, it is very intutive to use?

You say: Linux is better!
Reply: Really? Do tell.

You say: Linux comes with all the drivers for the hardware.
Reply: As long as one isnâ(TM)t using hardware that isnâ(TM)t support under Linux because it is too new, not popular with driver hackers, etc.

You say: No zombies, no viruses, etc.
Reply: It takes less time to buy and install AV software than to learn Linux enough to install, use, and secure it. The cost (opportunity and otherwise) of Linux is greater than that of Windows + AV software.

You say: Linux comes with all kinds of free software and there is a lot more available.
Reply: Most of which is any number of the following:

• Not relevant to most average users and just take up space on the hard drive
• Do not come close to being as good as what is available for Windows
• Is available for Windows.
• Consists of 10 reinventions of the wheel
• Crappy and half-finished
• Not what the user needs and what the user needs is not available on Linux
• Consume extra resources because it GNOME based running on KDE, or vice versa.

You say: Linux can use WINE to run most Windows application.
Reply: But, Windows runs all Windows applications and doesn't need to be installed. Also, it has the advantage of installing and running those apps right out of the box without having to go to the command line and configure anything.

Statement: Most Linux applications suck, have crappy inconsistent interfaces, and are often missing functionality of the Windows applications to which the supposedly compare.
You say: But, the users can pay for improvements and to have whatever functionality added!
Reply: Or, they can buy what they want outright for less.

Statement: There is better user support for Windows than Linux.
You say: There is tons of support. They can go to forums and websites and get free support.
Reply: Have you done a search for an answer lately? I see tons of forums posts with simple questions that generally don't get replies. And when they do get a reply, more often than not the reply is either "RTFM!" or someone taunting the "noob". Of course, there are the replies that read âoeGo to the app website and download the latest snapshot. Compile and install it, then go into the config file and set [undocumented option] to [insert undocumented mystery value]â. Or worse, âoeUpdate your kernel to [latest unstable RVL] and use the patch from [hackerâ(TM)s website].â

Pay attention:
As long as FLOSS is written by developers for themselves and other geeks, Linux will not gain traction with the average desktop users. What makes Windows and its associated software so popular among the masses is that it is written with the masses in mind and developers are paid to finish it.

Now, please, either address these issues or STFU.

Re:Scary

[Rary]

It really is not difficult to keep a windows box secure. Granted, it requires more attention than a Linux box, but still...it's quite easy to set up and maintain.

Honestly, if you're behind a firewall, you don't run random executables or click random links in emails, and you stay away from porn and other sketchy websites, there's no reason a Windows box should require any more attention than a Linux box to stay secure.