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Viruses 'are distributed by zombies'

Viruses, malware and other malicious content is now typically distributed using a zombie network, it has been asserted.

Bill Wardell, senior editor, creator and developer of internet protection information source the Online Security Authority, makes the suggestion in a post on the siesta blog.

He explains that many computer systems with "always on" broadband connections are now compromised with malicious software.

This allows malware to take control of those systems' secondary functions and use spare processing power and bandwidth to distribute viruses, key loggers and spam, he warns.

Mr Wardell writes: "Pandora's box has been opened and the explosion of information, both personal and non-personal, seems to be limitless and increases exponentially."

The computer protection expert adds that zombie systems may appear to be functioning normally on the surface.

Kellep Charles, adjunct professor of computer science at Maryland educational facility Capitol College, recently recommended obtaining software capable of identifying and repairing any files on a home computer infected with viruses.

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