Zombies and botnets: OECD warns of hidden armies in cyber wars

The report, entitled "Malicious software (malware): a security threat to the Internet economy," gives an impression of two worlds engaged in an uneven war of virus invasion and belated defence.

Cyber crime, to steal data, spy and attack government and business computer systems "is a potentially serious threat to the Internet economy," the study, published on Friday, warns.

Organisations involved in "fighting malware offer essentially a fragmented local response to a global threat," the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development says.

"Over the last 20 years, malware has evolved from occasional 'exploits' to a global multi-million-dollar criminal industry ... Cyber criminals are becoming wealthier and therefore have more financial power to create larger engines of destruction."

In the last five years there has been an upsurge in such criminal activity to attack systems and steal information, money and identities.

Using agents with names ranging from "zombies" and "worms" to "botnets", "Trojan horses" or "money mules", criminals can wreak havoc, usurping identities, recruiting and organising cohorts of computers for coordinated attacks, and even steal data for ransom.

"A botnet is a group of malware-infected computers also called 'zombies' or bots that can be used remotely to carry out attacks against other computer systems," the OECD said.

The report implied that some governments might also use similar techniques, saying: "It can also be assumed that nation states have the same capabilities."

The OECD warns that all forms of hacking have gone far beyond the adolescent disruption of the early days of the personal computer, to become a powerful and growing weapon in the hands of serious criminals.

It is highly profitable, at minimal cost to the criminals but a huge and unknown cost to honest users.

"There is no simple conclusion to the complex problems presented by malware," the report concludes.

"Malware has the potential to adversely affect any and all Internet users, from enterprises to governments to end users."

The first malicious virus, called "brain", emerged in 1986 and in 1988 a "worm" called "Morris" ate into more than 6,000 computers. The development of electronic mail in the 1990s generated worm epidemics under such names as "Melissa" or "MyDoom".

Some studies estimate that about 80 per cent of web-based malware was hosted on "innocent but compromised" websites and one report found 53.9 per cent of all malicious sites were hosted in China, followed by the United States with 27.2 per cent.

Vocabulary

to mobilise, v: to assemble; organise; ready

cyber, adj: relating to the media created in and between computers

software, n: programmes that are designed to run on a computer

uneven, adj: not equal; not balanced; irregular

virus, n: computer program written to harm a computer

belated, adj: late; delayed; coming after the useful time

essentially, adverb: behaving according to the nature or basic design

fragmented, adj: being incomplete

upsurge, n: quick increase in quantity or importance

to usurp, v: to take and use without having the authority or right to do so

Questions

1. What other term is used for "malicious software"?

a. malware

b. softicious

c. macrosoft

d. measly softies

2. What is cyber crime?

a. to ask for money for computer services

b. to steal data, spy and attack computers

c. to advertise terrorist organisations on the internet

d. to host websites without paying for free subscriptions

3. What makes cyber criminals more dangerous than ever?

a. They carry high-powered weapons.

b. Most cyber criminals are under age.

c. They have access to more powerful computers.

d. There are no laws against cyber crime in most countries.

4. How do worms usually travel from computer to computer?

a. by e-mail

b. by touch with dirty fingers

c. through fruit left near the keyboard

d. by leaving the computer unused for a long period of time

5. Where do most malicious programmes come from?

a. USA

b. China

c. Russia

d. Thailand

Synonyms

Which of the following words or phrases replace the ones from the passage best?

1. act

a. use

b. crime

c. action

d. intend

2. subvert

a. update

b. reinstall

c. enhance

d. sabotage

3. malicious

a. harmful

b. beautiful

c. innovative

d. sophisticated

4. engage

a. enjoy

b. avoid

c. involve

d. advance

5. wreak havoc

a. block dangers

b. cause destruction

c. conduct an analysis

d. accelerate responses

KEY

Questions              1. a, 2. b, 3. c, 4.a, 5. b

Synonyms              1. c, 2. d, 3. a, 4.c. 5. b 

By Horst Baelz