Botnets identifying 80,000 unsecure websites a day
By Joe Elvin
16/08/2011
Botnets are using search engines to hunt for potentially exploitable web pages at a rate of 80,000 a day.
These tools are scouring websites like Google and Bing at a lightning-fast speed in order to create huge lists of websites with unsecure links for use by cyber-criminals.
These websites are far easier to infect with malicious software than those which are completely secure.
The fact that such a large list of potential sites can be drawn up so quickly highlights the need for individuals and businesses to protect their computers using managed services software.
However, in an interview with SC Magazine, web security expert Amichai Shulman argued that search engines also had to do their bit to protect their users from malicious threats as well.
"These attacks highlight that search engine providers need to do more to prevent attackers from taking advantage of their platforms," he said.
According to venturebeat.com, hackers have been using this technique not only to contaminate websites but also to steal sensitive data and compromise company servers.
Yet, because botnets do not reveal the IP address of the hacker utilising them, it is far from easy for search engines to track down those using their services to assist with such crimes.
