File Storing Botnets Gain Popularity
Using botnets as remote file storage is gaining popularity according to ZDNet UK.
While saying that the risk is not major, Symantec has warned businesses that PCs can be hijacked and used by criminals to store data. As most computers have space on hard drives and don't completely utilise RAM, thousands of linked, compromised computers can be harnessed for data storage.
"This isn't about accessing data on your machines; it's using your machines to store data. It's a subtle use of a botnet," said Guy Bunker, senior director of technical strategy at Symantec.
Research independent from Symantec by companies such as Support Intelligence suggests that even some Fortune 500 companies with sophisticated and well-funded IT security systems have had machines compromised in this way.
It is believed that most of these systems are used to store pornography, music, movies, and TV shows and highlights the importance of ensuring your systems don't infected in the first place.
[Symantec warns of "parasitic storage"]
