Internet Security Experts: Spain And United States Top List Of Infected Bot Computers

November 5, 2009 9:54 a.m. EST

Glendale, CA (AHN) - Internet security experts Panda Security reveal Spain and the United States top the list when it comes to bot infected computers. Cyber-crooks can remotely control bot-infected computers, using them to send spam, propagate viruses, worms and Trojans.

Data compiled from October shows Spain leads the world with bot infected computers with a ranking of 44.49. percent. Next in the ranking, although trailing well behind Spain is the United States with 14.41 percent, , followed by Mexico (9.37 percent) and Brazil (4.81 percent).

According to Luis Corrons, Technical Director of PandaLabs, "Along with rogueware, botnets and zombie computers have increased by more than 30 percent so far this year."

He goes on to say that for crooks this is the simplest way for a hacker to take control of computers to distribute spam or malware. They favor this way because it is fare more difficult to trace and detect the real culprit.

Corrons says, "The problem is that owners of these zombie computers will be committing crimes without realizing it, and could face having their services withdrawn by their ISPs or even prosecution."

According to security experts countries with the least amount of infected viruses include Peru, the Netherlands and Sweden, all with ratios under 1 percent.

Internet and personal computer security experts recommend users have a good antivirus solution installed and keep it up-to-date.