The giant Conficker computer worm, once feared as an out-of-control internet doomsday machine, seems to have settled - for now - on trying to make
money in very predictable ways.
Researchers from Cisco
Systems Inc. say some of the up to 12 million personal computers infected by
Conficker are being used to send about 10,000 to 20,000 spam e-mails a day per
computer, far less than they actually are capable
of.
Lower volumes help evade
detection.
Earlier this month, some Conficker-infected
machines started selling fake antivirus software, using annoying pop-up ads to
warn of infections that only the criminals can clean up for a fee, but of course
never do.
Cisco's chief security researcher, Patrick
Peterson, says researchers are convinced "this is the two-pronged method (the
criminals) are going to use to make a fortune" off the infected
machines.
AP