Small Bots are Best Bots

Silicon.Com reports that over the past two years, the average network of bots, or compromised PCs commandeered by remote attackers, has dropped from more than 100,000 to an average of 20,000.

Apparently, the move to pint-size botnets helps malicious attackers have more success in delaying detection of their illicit zombie networks.

An increase in the numbers of hackers hoping to put together networks has made the task of securing zombie computers more competitive, so it is harder for the "bot herder" to amass a larger number of drone computers.

Also, according to Message Labs, home users with high-bandwidth connections, the primary targets of hackers, are taking more steps to secure their computers.