Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 5:49 am Post subject:

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Posted: 14 Jun 2007 02:54 am Post subject: Bulletins: FBI Takes Down
Cyber Hijackers

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Bulletins: FBI Takes Down Cyber Hijackers


FBI Takes Down Cyber Hijackers
ABC News Wed, 13 Jun 2007 9:28 AM PDT
'Botnetting' Operation Hit More Than 1 Million Computers

FULL
http://abcnews.go.com:80/TheLaw/stor...C-RSSFeeds0312

The FBI said it is working closely with industry and other law
enforcement agencies to ID the owners of compromised IP addresses.
(abc news)

By PIERRE THOMAS
June 13, 2007

ABC News has learned that the FBI has targeted a small number of
suspected hackers who allegedly took over thousands of personal
computers secretly and used them to steal identities and send out
massive amounts of spyware and spam.

The FBI said it has identified 1 million computer addresses that have
been affected in a scheme called "botnetting" in which criminals turn
other people's computers into servers and then use them for illicit
activity.

The FBI plans to use its victim assistance program to contact the many
people who have had their computers hijacked in this botnetting
scheme.

"The majority of victims are not even aware that their computer has
been compromised or their personal information exploited," said James
Finch, assistant director of the FBI's Cyber Division.

"An attacker gains control by infecting the computer with a virus or
other malicious code, and the computer continues to operate normally.
Citizens can protect themselves from botnets and the associated
schemes by practicing strong computer security habits."

FBI spokesman Richard Kolko added, "The FBI has issued this release
and public alert so that consumers will be aware of the threat of
botnets and take appropriate security precaution.

"It is difficult without analyzing the individual computer or network
to determine if you are a victim of a botnet. In regards to the more
than 1 million victim IP addresses uncovered in Operation Bot Roast,
the FBI is working closely with industry and other law enforcement
agencies to identify the owners of these IP addresses."

To date, the federal government has charged or arrested the following
individuals for similar computer fraud and abuse:

James C. Brewer of Arlington, Texas, is alleged to have operated a
botnet that infected Chicago area hospitals. This botnet infected tens
of thousands of computers worldwide. (FBI Chicago)


FBI Takes Down Cyber Hijackers
12Next http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/Story?id=3274261&page=2

Jason Michael Downey of Covington, Ky., is charged with using botnets
to send a high volume of traffic to intended recipients, impairing the
availability of those systems. (FBI Detroit)

Robert Alan Soloway of Seattle is alleged to have used a large botnet
network and spammed tens of millions of unsolicited e-mail messages to
advertise his Web site from which he offered services and products.
(FBI Seattle)

( Listen in "Botnet Cartel" http://www.bluecollarpc.net/download...tnetCartel.wma
)

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