I am not sure how to explain this, but something like 30,000 computers (Laptop, PC, Smart phone) have been compromised in Germany and are under the control of criminals.

This has been achieved by acquiring control of the Domain Naming System DNS which every computer uses to connect with other computers on the world wide web. The DNS is used for instance when you are reading E-Mail or simply reading the news on the BBC or CNN.

DNS explanation here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_Name_System

By obtaining DNS control the criminals hope to obtain your login names and passwords when you buy something on the Internet, or check up on your E-Banking account. They are also able to alter your E-Mails so that you unwittingly send out spying software programme Trojaner "DNSChanger" to the people in your E-Mail address book.

The German criminal police authority, Bundeskriminalamt, is going to regain control of these hi-jacked computers and disable them, I believe this will happen in March.

There is more technical information (in German) here: http://blog.botfrei.de/2011/11/troja...einstellungen/

More news here: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7...-malware-scam/

I am publishing a link below, which you can open and view the results of the automatic test for the Trojan programme "DNSChanger". Notice that top right are the Icons for the German authorities, (I received a green band with the message "Ihre DNS Konfiguration ist korrekt")

LINK: http://www.dns-ok.de/

In addition to checking your network settings, you can check for the malware with most updated malware scanners or by downloading and running the DNSChanger Trojan removal tool from SecureMac.com. Because the malware has been around for a long time and has not changed much for OS X systems, most reputable malware scanners should easily detect it.

Read more: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7...#ixzz1jByZyzWF

Maybe an EF member with more information can add some substance?

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzDbbEWXVEk