[CIS Seminar on Oct. 19] Cyber Space Open Lecture by Mr. Gary Warner

Botnets are collections of computers, usually belonging to home users, which
are under the collective control of a criminal entity.  The criminals then
use YOUR COMPUTER to send spam, phishing emails, and even extortion letters.
They also use the computers for DISTRIBUTED DENIAL OF SERVICE attacks, and
install KEY LOGGERS to steal important documents and userids and passwords
to your online accounts.  Other BotNets intentionally target key employees
in some of the largest and most secure organizations in our country.

With more than 3 million American computers participating in Botnets at any
given moment, this threat to our safety, security, and privacy is very real.
The most prevalent BotNet, called the Storm Worm, has been under close
scrutiny by Warner and some of our own CIS Grad students.  Come and learn
how you can help yourself and your friends and family keep safe from this
threat, which most anti-virus products are powerless to prevent.

Gary Warner is the Director of Research in Computer Forensics at the
University of Alabama at Birmingham.  With twenty years experience as an IT
Professional, and six years experience fighting CyberCrime, Warner is
frequently sought out by law enforcement, government agencies, and financial
institutions for his help with their most challenging CyberCrime
investigations.  Come and learn what UAB is doing to help in the Fight
Against Botnets.