31 Mar 2009

Conficker virus 'a threat to all businesses'

A new virus is threatening the security of companies worldwide as experts attempt to stop it.

The mysterious Conficker virus is travelling the globe via an enormous botnet network and has so far stumped experts attempting to determine its nature and creator.

Vincenet Weafer, vice president of internet security company Symantec, says the main aim of the virus is to provide a binary update service to its programmers which allows them to take control of computers.

"Most malware these days is designed to be used for some type of criminal monetary gain and conducting such criminal acts typically requires stealth measures to be successful," he explains.

So far the virus is thought to have affected ten million PCs, with Microsoft offering a $250,000 (£175,000) reward for any information regarding its source.

A recent episode of the BBC technology programme Click revealed how software used to create botnets can be easily acquired online, highlighting the need for effective IT security.