* * * * *
                                        
                             I guess it beats spam
                                        
> PandaLabs has detected a network of computers infected with the bot
> Clickbot.A, which is being used to defraud “pay per click” systems,
> registering clicks automatically and providing lucrative returns for the
> creators. According to the data collected so far, the scam is exploiting a
> global network comprising more than 34,000 zombie computers (those infected
> by the bot).
> 
> “Renting and selling of botnets has become a genuine business model for
> cyber-crooks. The scam we have now uncovered exploits infected systems to
> generate profits through ‘Pay per Click’ systems, instead of by installing
> spyware sending spam,” explains Luis Corrons, director of PandaLabs. “Given
> the proliferation of these networks, it is highly advisable for users to
> scan their systems with fully up-to-date anti-malware solutions, as bots
> like those involved in this case can be perfectly concealed on computers”.
> 

““Pay Per Click” fraud botnet discovered [1]”

It's almost refreshing that using zombie machines to defraud AdWords [2] and
AdSense [3] is more lucrative than sending spam (and from what I've been
reading, it's no really within Google's best short term interest to stop
this).

[1] http://www.net-/
[2] http://adwords.google.com/
[3] http://adsense.google.com/

Email Sean Conner at sean@conman.org

.