Am I alone in feeling uncomfortable at the article's consistent use of "slaves"? This is very different from slavery, and if it's the perpetrators' term then it seems like buying into their worldview.
As far as that context goes, the term is accurate for what RATs do: the hacker's "master" device can be used to control what the "slave" machines do. I assume that this is the context in which these people are using those terms. But it is, admittedly, somewhat jarring for people unfamiliar with that context.
"Los Angeles officials have asked that manufacturers, suppliers and contractors stop using the terms "master" and "slave" on computer equipment, saying such terms are unacceptable and offensive." [1].
[1] http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/ptech/11/26/master.term.reut/
> prepare to be sold or traded to the kind of person who enters forums to ask, "Can I get some slaves for my rat please?"