Conficker Worm Could Create World's Biggest Botnet

nk497 writes "The worm that's supposedly infected almost nine million PCs running Windows, dubbed Cornficker or Downadup, could lead to a massive botnet, security researchers have said. The worm initially spread to systems unpatched against MS08-067, but has since 'evolved and is now able to spread to patched computers through portable USB drives through brute-force password-guessing.'"

Comments

Evolution

[KasperMeerts]

The worm initially spread to systems unpatched against MS08-067, but has since 'evolved

It hasn't evolved. This is clearly Intelligent Design and anyone denying this is a godless heathen!

Re:Evolution

[jabithew]

You forgot arguably the biggest driver of evolution; sexual selection.

But then, this is slashdot, so maybe I shouldn't be surprised.

Re:Evolution

[cbiltcliffe]

It's not phishing. Just enter your username and password into my^H^Hslashdot's login form, and make sure your account details are correct.....

Creamed, kernel, or cob?

[Stanislav_J]

Do I just have a dirty mind, or did others upon first glance read this as the "Cornfucker" worm?

Re:Creamed, kernel, or cob?

[KillerLoop]

In german, cornficker has exactly this meaning.

Not the size of a planet

[tinkerton]

the size of Pluto maybe.

Re:follow the money.

[Erikderzweite]

This nasty virus has caused me to be up working overtime for the past two weeks.

Well one hint to finding the assholes who wrote this virus is the fact that the virus willingly ignores computers originating within the Ukraine.

That narrows it down to about 80 million people. ;-)

Ukraine has about 46 million people. And the situation is already being dealt with -- Russia has stopped to supply them with gas.

Re:follow the money.

[jjeffries]

"smappers" is a lovely word and should be given a meaning at once!