0/5

4 Corners: Fear in the Fast Lane

According to this Four Corners report, one in six computers in Australia is, or has been, part of a ‘botnet.’

cyber_crimeTomorrow night’s Four Corners looks at how easy it is for a cyber-crook to take control of your computer without you even knowing it.

By clicking on some sites your computer can become a slave to a central computer in what’s called a ‘botnet’. That makes it possible for a criminal to steal information, including bank and credit card details.

According to this report, one in six computers in Australia is, or has been, part of a ‘botnet’ and a ‘botnet.’

Police tell Four Corners they are now so concerned by this type of crime they have set up covert operations on the web to infiltrate illicit marketplaces.

Four Corners took an e-security expert to an ordinary city street and asked him to assess computer security. Using a basic wireless interceptor he found he could tap into up to 20 per cent of wireless computer networks, potentially accessing bank accounts and other personal information.

This airs Monday 17th August at 8.30pm on ABC1 and is repeated on Tuesday 18th at 11.35pm.

6 Responses

  1. Having watch this now (I had a busy week) I’m relieved that around 80% of home wireless networks are secure now but a little scared that an expert may take just minutes to break in.

    ITA there needs to be more education on Internet security.

  2. Need to get the word out there, even more the video needs to be played
    in retail shops that sell computers informing all the
    public so that it is not just our crime units working on the problem every household is by ensuring they are protected as well as aware of
    how to treat the internet.
    if botnets can affect computers to aide in cyber crime then everyone doing
    their part ,if they are using the internet .Learn more of how to protect not only the individual but also everyone they know and interact with “Good Habits”
    This will take the crims edge away “Dont be part of the problem be part of the solution”

  3. This is part of the reason why I’ve never wanted a wireless network. It’s only really useful if you move around a bit with a laptop, which I don’t do – I only use desktop PCs.

    Having said that, it’s easy enough to find out how to protect yourself from this particular threat, and you’d think that that level of protection would be the default settings out of the modem box.

Leave a Reply