RAMNIT botnet servers taken down

Cybercrime cops in Europe have taken down the command and control servers for the RAMNIT botnet, which has infected 3.2 million computers worldwide, including 33,000 in the UK.

Working with cops in the Netherlands, Italy and Germany, the National Crime Agency's cybercrime unit took down the servers, one of which was in Gosport, Hampshire.

RAMNIT was spread via innocuous-looking links sent in phishing emails or social networking websites, and has mainly been used to take money from bank accounts from people running Windows OSes.

Steve Pye of the NCA’s national cybercrime Unit said: “This malware effectively gives criminals a back door so they can take control of your computer, access your images, passwords or personal data and even use it to circulate further spam messages or launch illegal attacks on other websites."

“As a result of this action, the UK is safer from RAMNIT, but it is important that individuals take action now to disinfect their machines, and protect their personal information," he added.

You can check your system for the malware infection by going to either CyberStreetWise or GetSafeOnline.

According to Wikipedia, the botnet was responsible for the infection of 800,000 Windows PCs between September and December 2011.