In 300 to 450 words, critically analyse the protocols and systems attackers use
ID: 3589874 • Letter: I
Question
In 300 to 450 words, critically analyse the protocols and systems attackers use to control and update botnets today. Explain the changes over the past five years. State whether or not you believe botnets will continue for the foreseeable future and explain your position. If you do believe botnets will continue, describe the purpose and activities you believe they will conduct in the next five years.
Please consider the following:
1. No copy and paste allowed.
2. Harvard referencing should be used.
Explanation / Answer
BOTNETS:
Botnets are closely related to zombifying viruses in that the zombifying virus may include code that allows a botnet master to take control of the infected computer.Botnets offer attackers many advantages, such as helping them to evade detection and enabling them to do more harm by controlling a large number of computers. Botnets can be used to send spam, conduct DDoS attacks, or engage in a variety of other activities.The botnet master does not necessarily need technical know-how to create the botnet, since control of botnets consisting of thousands of computers can be purchased for just a few hundred dollars.
Because of the variety of threats botnets pose, countries must develop methods to cripple botnets. Japan has attempted to address the botnet problem by providing disinfection tools to the owners of infected computers, though the Japanese program does not have a very high participation rate. Researchers have also conducted “takedowns” of botnets by interrupting the controller’s ability to issue commands to the infected computers.However, these takedowns are generally only temporary measures because the zombie computers remain infected. It is theoretically possible, given enough information, to disseminate code to the botnet and thereby disinfect the zombie computers, but such actions would likely violate the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (“CFAA”) as well as international cybercrime statues.