AOL has most number of Zombie Computers

AOL has most number of Zombie Computers

Security Vendor Prolexic Technologies recently reported that America Online in United States hosts the most number of Zombie Computers on their network. This means that any possibilities for a mass level DDOS attack is likely to be powered by AOL Customers in a large way. Zombie computers are computers, which are infected with malware and can be used by third parties to run Denial of Service attacks.

AOL topped the infection list at 5.32 percent edging out companies like Germany’s Deutsche Telekom and France’s Wanadoo. In the United States alone, it accounted for 11.71% of all zombie machines on their network. Comcast and BellSouth were the other two ISPs in the top three positions for the US.

However, these numbers are somewhat highlighting the fact that AOL has the least density of infected machines on their network when the total number of subscribers are taken into consideration. Andrew Weinstein, an AOL spokesperson said in a statement: “We’re the largest ISP, so we’re going to have the largest of everything. Even though we’re several times larger than the next largest ISP, the rates of infection for those next-largest ISPs are basically the same.”

Some other stats in the report also put the United States at the top of the list for having the maximum rate of Zombie computers in their country at 18% followed by China and Germany.