Security experts have discovered a tool that can be used to initiate denial-of-service attacks using micro-blogging site Twitter. A tool that lets criminals infect other PCs and turn them into 'bots' controlled through Twitter has been spotted by security experts.

The tool, called TwitterNET Builder, creates malicious executable files that cybercriminals can send on to other surfers. If the files are opened, the victim's computer is infected with malware that enables the cybercriminal to control it via a Twitter account.

Networks of infected computers - known as botnets - can then be used by the cybercriminals to swamp websites with traffic, causing them to crash in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. They can also be used to spread spam emails and more malware.

Though the tool is "slick", it does have problems, researchers at Sunbelt Software said.

"All in all, a very slick tool and no doubt script kiddies everywhere are salivating over the prospect of hitting a website with a DDoS from their mobile phones. However, something to keep in mind: anyone using this as an attack method is horribly exposed," said Christoper Boyd of Sunbelt.

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