[pchelpers] Article:Hackers control PCs while users unaware

Security experts say you can be vigilant, but determined criminals are
hard to beat
Jim Finkle


September 21, 2007  (Reuters) -- A few weeks ago Candace Locklear's
office computer quietly started sending out dozens of instant messages
with photos attached that were infected with malicious software. 

She was sitting at her desk, with no sign that the messaging software
was active. By the time she figured out what was going on, several
friends and colleagues had opened the attachments and infected their
computers.

It took eight hours for a technician to clean up her computer. But
because the malicious software worked so secretly, she's still not
convinced that all's clear.

"I'd like to think that it's gone. But I just don't know," said
Locklear, 40, a publicist in San Francisco. "That's what is so
frustrating."

Computer security experts estimate that tens of millions of PCs are
infected with malicious programs like the one that attacked Locklear's
machine. Such software, generally classified as malware, attack
companies along with consumers.

More here:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9038180&intsrc=news_ts_head
-- 
John Durham
Site http://modecideas.com
Server hosted on Ubuntu 4.10
Good advice is like good paint. It only works when applied.



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