News
New anti-botnet website : www.botfree.ie
15th November 2011
ComReg wishes to announce the launch of a new anti-botnet website for Ireland – www.botfree.ie
This website, which will launch 16th November, is a venture between ComReg, The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) and the German Internet Service Providers Association (eco).
The website has been developed to allow all computer users in Ireland to detect, using the tools on the site, whether their computers have been infected by a virus or malware that could lead to their machine being used in a botnet attack. If an infection is detected the free IE-Cleaner tool will remove the virus from the computer at that time.
The site also includes tips on safe internet surfing and links to on-line scanners and windows re-installations.
In countries where similar websites have been rolled out, significant decreases in infection and botnet originations have resulted. For example in Germany
• Malicious activity by source, in 2010 Germany was ranked 3 globally as the country of origin and a year later it was ranked 7.
• Spam by source, in 2010 Germany was ranked 3 globally as the country of origin and a year later it was ranked 22.
• Bots by source, in 2010 Germany was ranked 2 globally as the country of origin and a year later it was ranked 8.
The website is a way for Irish computer users to continue to or begin to be vigilant against viruses, worms and malware that can not only slow down your internet connection but can lead to the theft of personal information and also use up your upstream and downstream allowances from your Broadband provider.
The site also contains tools for Smartphone users to help protect their devices from malware.
