The BBC didn’t hack the websites, they bought the botnet. What they did do was use already compromised computers to demonstrate how people (who should know better) are unaware that they (as you say) have left a door open.

I hope the program makes people sit up and think, then again, if they don;t I will continue to charge for cleaning up PC’s that have become infected..

I hope that the Beeb _do_ get taken to court. Then, if it gets thrown out, all of the security researchers who actually know what they are doing will have a free reign to run remote clean-ups. Alternatively, if the Beeb loses, you can bet the publicity will be enough to force a change in the law.

I found the article very helpfull as i had not fully understod just what botnet was i do now. If it does the job and get people to secures their pc it has done a good job. The sad thing is its people and business who should know better. who don’t secure pc’s.

ooops, maybe it goes to show I’m clear what a botnet is myself as I’m using the term “hacked” inaccurately - maybe I’d better read the article properly myself