Comments on: Net pioneer predicts overwhelming botnet surge

A quarter of all Net-connected PCs could become infected by Trojans, Vint Cerf tells World Economic Forum attendees.

[Fictia]

It's not such a big deal, actually.

Even if a particular botnet operator can TAKE THE INTERNET DOWN for a few hours, they will not do this. Because the moment they do this everyone goes home with a CD that cleans off their machine from that crap and secures it REALLY WELL for the future. Instead, the smart botnet operator will keep using 1-2% of their full potential to stay low and still achieve their goals. Maybe sometimes increasing to 5%. Point is, securing against botnets is VERY EASY (automatic windows updates + NOD32orKAV) so those who have control over the stupid user's machine will want that user to remain unaware for as long as possible. Major breaking news telling ppl "your computer is likely infected" isn't going to serve his goal...

[MD525]

Maybe not an imminent big deal but still a threat

I agree that it is unlikely that this will be done by current botnet operator's but to me the key is the potential. I also agree that the majority or people infected are the uninformed, though I don't blame them as their are a lot of software prevention measures that could be more readily available that can clamp down on opening email files and when it is ok to open them that we are not currently using. However, I think the threat comes more from the use of this by people who may use the computers to do acts such as cyber-terrorism in co ordinance with regular attacks. I know it sounds a little conspiracy theory but it really is a possibility with bonnet communities able to shut down virtually any system when they use their full potential.

[Fictia]

It's not such a big deal, actually.

Even if a particular botnet operator can TAKE THE INTERNET DOWN for a few hours, they will not do this. Because the moment they do this everyone goes home with a CD that cleans off their machine from that crap and secures it REALLY WELL for the future. Instead, the smart botnet operator will keep using 1-2% of their full potential to stay low and still achieve their goals. Maybe sometimes increasing to 5%. Point is, securing against botnets is VERY EASY (automatic windows updates + NOD32orKAV) so those who have control over the stupid user's machine will want that user to remain unaware for as long as possible. Major breaking news telling ppl "your computer is likely infected" isn't going to serve his goal...

[MD525]

Maybe not an imminent big deal but still a threat

I agree that it is unlikely that this will be done by current botnet operator's but to me the key is the potential. I also agree that the majority or people infected are the uninformed, though I don't blame them as their are a lot of software prevention measures that could be more readily available that can clamp down on opening email files and when it is ok to open them that we are not currently using. However, I think the threat comes more from the use of this by people who may use the computers to do acts such as cyber-terrorism in co ordinance with regular attacks. I know it sounds a little conspiracy theory but it really is a possibility with bonnet communities able to shut down virtually any system when they use their full potential.