~ "Possible source of half of all web spam meets its end" ~

[LongTermGuy]

"Spam affects all of our daily web activities, whether we choose to ignore it or not. Junk mail, fake chat messages, and malicious websites are just a few of the potholes that dot the information superhighway. Insidious internet software is primarily spread through the use of botnets — large collections of public computers that have been infected without the knowledge of their owners. One such botnet, named "Grum," has just suffered a very serious setback thanks to the work of internet security experts from around the world.

Grum's servers — the machines that control the network and manipulate users' PCs without their knowledge — were based in the Netherlands and Panama, making them difficult to locate. Once they were shut down on Wednesday, Grum's architects quickly revived the spam networking using new machines in both Russia and the Ukraine. But almost as quickly as those new servers sprung to life, they were again shut down by authorities.

Experts estimate that Grum's spam production may have accounted for as much as 50% of the web's total. So, will you notice an immediate difference in the amount of junk mail or scam-ridden chat messages? Perhaps, but with botnets such as this, as soon as one is taken down there are typically several more lined up to take its place. Still, lowing the hammer on Grum is definitely a big step towards a safer internet."
Possible source of half of all web spam meets its end | Technology News Blog - Yahoo! News

[GunsandNoses]

Shut em all down. We should not have to pay to be bombarded with unwanted crapola.

[MadKaw]

We could eliminate the whole problem if we could just convince people to quit clicking on the "Nude photos of Nancy Pelosi" links.

By the way, if you clicked on that, you are doomed. I am not going to speculate about the delay that has been built into the virus, but I guarantee that your anti-virus software cannot stop it.

[NYPD]

We could eliminate the whole problem if we could just convince people to quit clicking on the "Nude photos of Nancy Pelosi" links.

By the way, if you clicked on that, you are doomed. I am not going to speculate about the delay that has been built into the virus, but I guarantee that your anti-virus software cannot stop it.

The only virus I'll get from viewing nude pics of Nancy Pelosi is a stomach virus.

[GunsandNoses]

Funny thing is I got the most spam ever this week.

[MadKaw]

The only virus I'll get from viewing nude pics of Nancy Pelosi is a stomach virus.

So are you saying you didn't click, or that you got a stomach virus from looking?

[here2serve]

Yes the botnets are a problem but until the WINDOZE machines get better security AND a more informed user base the problem will be back shortly. Enjoy the brief respite. The botnets tick me off and the fact that Microsoft slides on the topic makes it worse.

[here2serve]

"When elected, I promise:
Every citizen will be issued a 1911 and an M-14
Every county with a population over 1,000 will have a free public shooting range with stages at 3, 7, 15, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 300 meters.
Practice ammo will be issued sufficient for two range session per month.
A constitutional amendment will be proposed, reading: "The right of the individual to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
A vote for Mad Kaw is a vote for sanity." MadKaw

When can I look forward to helping you get elected?

[rodfair]

Nancy Pelosi IS spam!

[whichfinger]

We could eliminate the whole problem if we could just convince people to quit clicking on the "Nude photos of Nancy Pelosi" links.

By the way, if you clicked on that, you are doomed. I am not going to speculate about the delay that has been built into the virus, but I guarantee that your anti-virus software cannot stop it.

Erm... what if I ... er, that is, someone just sort of, well, you know, accidentally, like, swiped the cursor over it without clicking?