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IT security workers stop cybercrime

04/03/2010 IT security workers stop cybercrimeExperts in IT security have shut down one of the largest botnets, which had already infected nearly 13 million computers across 190 countries.

Called the Mariposa, the virus copied account information from bank websites and email, affecting personal users, students at university and IT workers in business and government.

Unlike other viruses, often blocked using firewalls, the Mariposa was spread using peer-to-peer networks, Messenger applications and even directly through USB ports.

Luis Corrons, technical director for Panda Security, one of the organisations that helped shut down the botnet, said: "[The Mariposa botnet] is the biggest botnet I have ever seen ? but if you take a look from the outside, it is a drop in the ocean."

Mr Corrons said that despite the work from the FBI, Spanish law enforcement who arrested the three cyber criminals and IT security experts, they were lucky on this occasion to stop the virus and catch the culprits.

"In the global fight against cyber crime it is not enough yet; we have to do many, many things," he explained.


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