140,000 SQL Servers can’t all be wrong

There are several massive networks of compromised machines, one consisting of around 140,000 computers. The machines have had bots placed on them; the bots establish communication with Internet Relay Chat (IRC) servers to receive commands. Given that it takes hundreds of networked computers to take down a major Internet site in a denial-of-service attack, these networks could do significant damage.

Let’s get this straight: some teenager somewhere has his finger poised over a button that can unleash an attack from a distributed network of over 140,000 machines. This kid can pick any single target (or multiple targets) he wants and take them offline for at least several days. It will require thousands of system adminstrators to deal with the attack, as it will originate from thousands of networks. If I ran the network at a Fortune 100 company, or any high profile technology company, I’d be shitting my pants right now.

Via Crypto-gram.