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New Russian Botnet Tries To Kill Rivals

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the there-can-be-only-one dept.

alphadogg writes "An upstart Trojan horse program has decided to take on its much-larger rival by stealing data and then removing the malicious program from infected computers. Security researchers say that the relatively unknown Spy Eye toolkit added this functionality just a few days ago in a bid to displace its larger rival, known as Zeus. The feature, called "Kill Zeus," apparently removes the Zeus software from the victim's PC, giving Spy Eye exclusive access to usernames and passwords. Zeus and Spy Eye are both Trojan-making toolkits, designed to give criminals an easy way to set up their own "botnet" networks of password-stealing programs. These programs emerged as a major problem in 2009, with the FBI estimating last October that they have caused $100 million in losses."

4 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. XKCD was there first by thegameiam · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How long will it be until this is a reality?

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    Need Geek Rock? Try The Franchise!
    1. Re:XKCD was there first by jgtg32a · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Is it bad, that when someone posts an XKCD link I only click on it only to confirm that it was the one I though it was?

  2. As long as its not guns by ratboy666 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'll make some popcorn and we can all enjoy the show.

    But seriously, only 100M in losses?

    I don't have the figures at hand, but "McAfee forecasts $1.8 billion in revenue for 2009". I would put the cost of the extra security in; the US did that when prosecuting Gary McKinnon, so there appears to be precedent.

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    Just another "Cubible(sic) Joe" 2 17 3061
  3. Re:Why is this news? by Conchobair · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think there is a guy that just goes around from article to article asking "Why is this news?" on each of them.

    If it was a local report about a murder, he'd show up and say "Why is this news? People have been getting murdered for several years now." Or if if was a report on a politicians speech, he'd say, "Why is this news? Politicians have been telling us lies for years and years now."