There's an interesting article on the register about it http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/18/bbc_botnet/. I personally think it's pretty dodgy what they've done, and I suspect that if "average Joe" was to do the same a lot of people would take a different stance on the matter.

I mean, if I'm not allowed to break into other people's computers to illustrate threats or investigate their security, why is the BBC allowed to do it?

ac