BBC Hijacks 22,000 PCs In Botnet Demonstration

An anonymous reader writes "'[The BBC] managed to acquire its own low-value botnet — the name given to a network of hijacked computers — after visiting chatrooms on the internet. The programme did not access any personal information on the infected PCs. If this exercise had been done with criminal intent it would be breaking the law. But our purpose was to demonstrate botnets' collective power when in the hands of criminals.' The BBC performed a controlled DDoS attack, 'then ordered its slave PCs to bombard its target site with requests for access to make it inaccessible.'"

Comments

Ex Msoft at the top of BBC technology

[hughbar]

This more childish attention seeking from the BBC. They're losing audience share even in my demographic (50ish, middle class) who used to be their cheerleaders. I noticed that the operating system word was not mentioned throughout the whole of this childish and possibly illegal prank. Perhaps that's because Eric Huggers (and lately a lot of his Msoft minions) are now at the top of BBC technology. As for Spencer Kelly of Click (which is a product placement program rather than a serious one) he's admitted publically that he doesn't know much about computers: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/programmes/click_online/meet_the_team/default.stm It's sad to see a great institution brought so low and we still have to pay for these tossers (to use the technical word).

Re:Now this...

[Locke2005]

If that woman didn't want to have sex with me, she should have been wearing a chastity belt! Its her own fault for not having the appropriate security in place!

Sorry, I don't think that explanation is going to fly in court.

Re:why use botnet

[Opportunist]

Thank you! Finally one that gets it!

Gah, what happened to "news for nerds". Nobody even responded with "this is not the trojan you're looking for".