BBC buys a botnet

The BBC has acquired control of 22,000 home computers as part of an investigation into hi-tech crime.

Click's Spencer Kelly talks to Jacques Erasmus from Prevx about how hackers use these hijacked machines to send out millions of spam messages.

The clip on this page is available for use on your website or social networking page - click on the share button and then embed to find out more.

Video/Reviews:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/7938503.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7938949.stm

Prices:
http://i.zdnet.com/blogs/botnet_on_demand_02.jpg

Botnet destroyed with warning:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/7884387.stm

 

I'm not real sure I'm comfortable with the fact they did that, regardless of the "good intention". That could easily come back to bite them square on the behind.