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Google Blogger "Hosts 2% of World's Malware"
Barence writes "Google's Blogger service is responsible for 2% of the world's malware hosted on the Web, according to a new report from security firm Sophos. The company claims hackers are setting up pages on the free blogging service to host malicious code, or simply posting links to infected websites in other bloggers' comments. 'Blogger accounts for around 2% of malware,' according to Sophos's senior technology consultant, Graham Cluley. 'It's head and shoulders above the rest [of the blogging services].'" Sophos believes that Blogger is favored because, being part of Google, it gets spidered early and often.
Perhaps a good reason why blogging should be illegal.
You're assuming its just the Malware's eyes they're after. Perhaps a study of the spread of Malware through Google would tell us something about their culture? Their will of course be somewhat disconnected clouds of competing bot swarms. Perhaps studying the shape of these clouds and how they choose to connect might help us combat their effectiveness?
Meanwhile...
...what?
Cut to Steve Ballmer screaming at some programmers.
Ballmer: Two percent?
Programmer: Sir, we..
Ballmer: Two percent?! I told you twenty!
Programmer: We're trying. It's just...
Ballmer: Just what?
Programmer: There's so much other malware coming out, that it throws our percentages off.
Ballmer: Then hire them!
Programmer: Who? The malware authors?
Ballmer: Do you have a problem with that?
Programmer: I don't think it's ethical.
Ballmer: Tony Stark built this in a cave! With a bunch of scraps!
Programmer:
Those who believe the Internet is private,
find their privates are on the Internet.
Blogger is popular for spam redirects, because it's possible to turn a Blogger page into a redirect. Typical example: "Looking for a R0lex repl1ca? ... Where? At http://www.mitch83393.blogspot.com/" (Google already got this one as a TOS violation, but they're throwaway blogs generated by programs. There will be a new one in a few minutes.) Spammers do this to get their message through filters that check for spam links.
This is a generic problem with Google's free services. Spammers and scammers now use GMail to get throwaway mail accounts, Blogger for an open redirector, YouTube to host advertising videos, AdWords to advertise scams, and Google Checkout to collect the money. It's full-service evil.
For the last two, Google has a business relationship, but doesn't seem to be validating their customers well enough. The use of Google Checkout for spam and attack tools is especially disturbing. Try, for example, searching for "craiglist posting". Note the ads with Google Checkout links. There, Google is an active participant in collecting the money and is profiting from the transaction.
PC Pro's crack writers say:
(Emphasis mine.) Journalism at its finest!
"Believe me!" -- Donald Trump
I'm curious to what the 2% number means when market share and region figures are factored in. I'll bet it doesn't mean much.
Newsflash! 2% of the Internet is where 2% of the hackers are!
and serve ads to it
I'll see your hokum and raise you a boondoggle.