IT contractors will not be able to completely protect businesses from the threat posed by botnets without government help, it has been claimed.

Governments have the power to legally shut down the servers that host these botnets, whereas as reactionary measure taken by IT security professionals is no more than another attack, according to Panda Security.

The importance of this co-operation is indicated by the fact that these hosting servers are increasingly appearing in countries where getting government assistance with such matters can prove difficult, claims the firm's senior project manager for the UK Sebastian Zabala.

"The government and the cooperation with it are needed for taking out the botnet. Our [IT security professionals'] part is more supplying them with the information and adding technical help," he explained.

Earlier this month, the US government's Federal Trade Commission announced it has shut down internet service provider 3FN, having charged it with hosting servers for botnets and distributing a number of malicious programs.