3 Risks of Zombie Computers (and How to Properly Dispose of Them)

For most businesses, networks offer many advantages that make it easier to manage your operations.

However, there are risks that should be considered when connecting to the network. From trojans and viruses to spyware and ransomware, businesses have a lot to be wary of when making remote connections, and one of the biggest threats to look out for is a zombie computer.

What Is a Zombie Computer?

While there are all types of malicious software that users should be wary of and avoid, zombie computers pose a remarkably unique risk because they’re capable of spreading malware to other systems, making it harder to deal with the threat if it isn’t correctly handled.

Zombie computers are often used as a means to stage other malicious attacks, such as a denial of service (DOS), to perform illegal activities. Computers that have been infected become part of a botnet that works together (hence the zombie moniker) to give even more computing resources to the hackers who built them.

What Are the Risks of a Zombie Computer?

Zombie computers are often hard to see coming, and once yours is infected, recovery isn’t always possible. Therefore, it is crucial to know if you’re being targeted as soon as possible.

There are many dangers to having a zombie computer on your network, and businesses should make sure they consider the risks associated with these types of attacks, so they avoid falling victim to a botnet.

1. Silent Attacker

Zombie computers can be easily taken over by hackers without the user even knowing about them, which makes them especially dangerous to users who may unknowingly be providing hackers with valuable data and contributing to further malicious activity.

2. A Deadly Horde

Zombie computers house viruses that are designed to be deployed to others on the same network, and the more devices that have been taken over, the more hackers are capable of. For many businesses, this sort of “horde” introduces the risk of having their entire network compromised, leading to a substantial loss of critical financial and legal documents alongside user accounts.

3. Resource-Hungry

Zombie computers constantly run operations silently in the background, meaning they consume resources without the user’s knowledge and thus make processes run slower, cause crashes, and compromise user privacy.

Protect Your Network from Zombie Computers with SEAM

If you’re fearful of outdated equipment becoming a zombie computer and compromising your network, don’t be caught unaware by malicious attackers. Secure Enterprise Asset Management (SEAM) is a leader in IT asset disposition (ITAD) that will give you the certified assurance that your used equipment will be properly handled while you focus on getting your computers updated.

SEAM provides comprehensive data destruction services designed to safeguard you and your customers against potential breaches, be it for SSDs, HDDs, or even physical documents.

When you’re ready to dispose of your data, we’ll make sure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. If your business is located in South Dakota or North Dakota, our certified wiping and shredding services will give you peace of mind knowing that your network security won’t be compromised.

Call now and find out how SEAM can aid you in the fight against malicious criminals.