Internet Storm Center: a global safety net in hands of volunteers

The Internet Storm Centre is an international group of computer experts and analysts who provide a first-alert system to tell the world when a cyber attack has been launched and what to do about it.

Johannes Ullrich patrols the front line from his computer at his home in Jacksonville, Florida. He is one of 36 volunteers worldwide who take it in turns to do 24-hour shifts. The Storm Centre logs millions of security entries every day from sensors covering more than 500,000 internet addresses in more than 50 countries.

The handlers post analysis and thoughts on the Storm Centre website, which is read by tens of thousands of cyber-security professionals. The group was set up in 2001 under the aegis of the SANS institute, an online security education and training body, when analysts got together to fight off the Li0n computer worm. Their action proved that a volunteer first- alert organisation was needed. Since then it has helped to deal with thousands of threats and played a crucial role in tracking the Conficker virus last year.

Almost all the handlers have day jobs. Some carry out their duties anonymously, including the one Briton in the group, who works for a big bank in London...