Scientists have discovered an "indestructible" botnet that could have affected some four million PCs. According to BBC.co.uk, the botnet - entitled 'TDL' - is designed to target PCs running Windows. Its fairly undetectable and has proven very difficult to disable.

Remote control

A botnet is typically defined as a "network of computers" infected by the same virus. The difference between this and a usual virus is that the PC, once infected, can be controlled by the hacker from a remote location.

Controlled with "custom-made encryption", TDL takes over the PCs via fake security software. Apparently the latest version, TDL 4, is even more advanced.
 

Making a drama of it?

However some also felt these reactions were over-dramatic, as fellow specialist Joe Stewart told DailyTech.com: "I wouldn't say it's perfectly indestructible" - although Stewart did admit it's very hard to remove from machines.

Reports confirmed that of its four million victims, 28 per cent were American, five per cent were British, seven per cent were Indian and three per cent were French. A further six per cent were from Canada or Germany.

You can tell you are infected by a couple of tell-tale signs, such as your Anti-Virus package being disabled and your web pages regularly re-directing to sites you did not type in. Kaspersky Lab have created a removal tool, TDSSKiller, and this is available here.

If you have any difficulty using this tool or still think you are infected give us a call and we will remove for you.