Queen bots pose security threat

Hackers launch attacks by sending malicious bots to vulnerable computers. Now these bots have evolved into queen bots in which the executable file containing the malicious code is packed. Before sending malware to a victim, hackers use packing to hide the executable that launches the desired attack. The technique adds a code string to make it harder for antivirus programs to recognize the file as malware. Once on a victim's computer, an executable file unpacks and launches the malware. Security experts are fighting back against queen bots. Examining code strings common to packers, Symantec has developed technology that creates new unpackers. Dragon has created a public malware to deal with queen bots and other forms of automated malware creation and updating.