Panda Software and RSA Security Help Dismantle a Network Swindling Pay-Per-Click Systems
Posted on: Tuesday, 13 June 2006, 12:00 CDT
GLENDALE, Calif., June 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Panda Software, in a joint effort with RSA Security, an expert in protecting online identities and digital assets, has once again helped to detect and neutralize a sophisticated online fraud attack.
Panda Software and RSA Security, companies that collaborate to detect and mitigate existing and emerging online fraud attacks, worked together to help dismantle the control system of a bot network designed to swindle pay-per-click systems. This network operates as follows:
- Fraudsters set up various Internet addresses and posted a series of genuine, syndicated search engine advertisements. - The bot network -- comprised of more than 50,000 zombie machines infected by Clickbot.A -- was programmed to access these Internet addresses and register clicks on the syndicated advertisements. - The fraudsters received a slice of the pay-per-click advertising revenues, even though the original advertisers did not receive any visits to their sites.
The entire bot network was managed by a complex control center. Each bot could be monitored remotely, allowing attackers to determine the number of clicks from each bot and control the number of bots that were active at any one time. This monitoring system was centralized on a server, which allowed attackers to track precise statistics of the botnet activity. As a result of the joint efforts of Panda Software and the RSA Security's Online Threats Managed Services team, the central control server was disabled, thus hindering the continuance of the scam.
"The level of sophistication that we're seeing -- and the speed at which new fraudster techniques are introduced -- is tremendous," said Keren Levy, director of the Online Threats Managed Services group at RSA Security. "It is our job to ensure that we keep pace with the fraudsters and keep our customers protected by shutting down these attacks. In addition to the RSA FraudAction(TM) service and our Online Threats Managed Services group, our work with partners like Panda Software helps to maintain business and consumer confidence in the Internet as a safe place to transact."
"Botnets are part of the cybercrime business model, as they are usually hired or sold to third parties to carry out malicious actions such as sending spam, stealing confidential data or installing other types of malware," explains Luis Corrons, head of Panda Software Labs. "This particular case represents a variant of this model -- the bot authors are directly obtaining financial benefits, swindling companies that pay for each click. The fact that companies pay for each click on their ads, combined with the number of bots involved in the scam, gives an idea of the huge proportions of this fraud."
To date, the cooperation between Panda Software and RSA Security has produced very effective results. The companies also recently assisted in the dismantling of a complex scheme to create and sell custom Trojans that were targeted against financial institutions and their customers.
About Panda Software
Is your computer free from viruses, spyware and other Internet threats? Use the free online scanner, Panda ActiveScan: http://www.activescan.com/.
Panda Software (http://www.pandasoftware.com/) is a leading developer and provider of integrated security solutions to combat viruses, hackers, Trojans, spyware, phishing, spam and other Internet-borne threats. With the revolutionary TruPrevent(TM) Technologies, Panda Software's innovative solutions offer a greater return on investment, keeping clients protected even against new threats that have yet to be identified. Panda Software Labs, the fastest laboratory in the industry to provide complete updates to users, offers a worldwide response to malware 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round.
Panda Software's centrally-managed security solutions protect servers, and gateways and all network entry points, ensuring a straightforward and highly effective line of defense against Internet threats for large organizations, SMBs and consumers. Panda solutions are backed by a team of expert support technicians in all countries where the company is present. Tech support services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Find out more about the company at: http://www.pandasoftware.com/about_panda/companyprofile/15years.asp
For more information and evaluation versions of all Panda Software solutions, visit our website at: http://www.pandasoftware.com/
To access the latest Panda Software press releases, please visit http://onlinepressroom.net/panda.
For more information: Carolina Sanabria Public Relations Manager Panda Software, USA Tel: 818-543-6909 pr@pandasecurity.com
Panda Software
CONTACT: Carolina Sanabria, Public Relations Manager of Panda Software,USA, +1-818-543-6909, pr@pandasecurity.com
Web site: http://www.pandasoftware.com/
Source: PRNewswire
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