Windows Weathers Attack of the Bots

By Jennifer LeClaire
TechNewsWorld

Hackers launched an attack against Windows PCs over the weekend. The attack came disguised as one-at-a-time bot pinpricks, instead of the massive worm some had feared. The bot uses an exploit published last week that leverages a vulnerability disclosed on August 8, Microsoft's last Patch Tuesday. Microsoft patched the vulnerability in Windows Server service in its security bulletin MS06-040.

Security analysts warned Windows users about it -- and now it's happening.

Hackers launched an attack against Windows PCs over the weekend. The attack came disguised as one-at-a-time bot pinpricks, instead of the massive worm some had feared.

Also known as zombies, a bot is a type of malware that allows an attacker to gain control over an affected computer. There are potentially tens of thousands of computers infected with bots without their owners' knowledge.

This latest bot uses an exploit published last week that leverages a vulnerability disclosed on August 8, Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) last Patch Tuesday. Microsoft patched the vulnerability in Windows Server service in its security bulletin MS06-040. Read more...