This post originated from an RSS feed registered with .NET Buzz by Sascha Corti. Original Post: Got Bots? [CNet] Feed Title: Console.WriteLine("Hello World"); Feed URL: http://www.corti.com/WebLogSascha/blogxbrowsing.asmx/GetRss? Feed Description: A technology blog with a focus on the .NET framework, the Visual Studio .NET tools and the Windows server platform with of course the normal weblog-noise on what's happening in the industry and reviews of the latest geeky gadgets. Latest .NET Buzz Posts Latest .NET Buzz Posts by Sascha Corti Latest Posts From Console.WriteLine("Hello World");

CNet writes about "bots" that use the same weaknesses as worms like Blaster, SQL Slammer or the new Sasser to infect systems, but then live unnoticed on the system, performing their master's tasks via orders that they receive via a special IRC channel for example. These "Zombie-Masters" can then inject code into their "bot" on the infected system to do anything, from DDOS attacks, over spying on the target system, to turning it into a spam-relay, do distributed brute-force attacks or even worse. An interesting thought - in a scary way: genuine digital versions of "sleepers".

A variant of the "Agobot", the Acrobot, disguised as a toy! :)