Microsoft offers $250,000 for info on hackers; ICANN involved in effort, too
(Computerworld) Nearly 20 technology companies and organizations are combining forces to disrupt the command-and-control infrastructure of the rapidly spreading Downadup worm, prompted by infection rates of nearly 2.2 million machines each day.
Firms, including Microsoft Corp., Symantec Corp. and VeriSign Inc., have joined ICANN, the nonprofit group that manages the Internet Domain Name System, to preemptively register and remove from circulation the Internet addresses that the worm's controllers use to maintain their hold on infected machines, said Gerry Egan, director of product management in Symantec's security response group.
Separately, Microsoft has offered a $250,000 reward for information that results in the arrest and conviction of the hackers who created and launched the worm.
Although Microsoft launched its hacker bounty program in 2003, it has rarely used the $5 million it set aside at the time.
More: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9127877&source=NLT_PM
(Computerworld) Nearly 20 technology companies and organizations are combining forces to disrupt the command-and-control infrastructure of the rapidly spreading Downadup worm, prompted by infection rates of nearly 2.2 million machines each day.
Firms, including Microsoft Corp., Symantec Corp. and VeriSign Inc., have joined ICANN, the nonprofit group that manages the Internet Domain Name System, to preemptively register and remove from circulation the Internet addresses that the worm's controllers use to maintain their hold on infected machines, said Gerry Egan, director of product management in Symantec's security response group.
Separately, Microsoft has offered a $250,000 reward for information that results in the arrest and conviction of the hackers who created and launched the worm.
Although Microsoft launched its hacker bounty program in 2003, it has rarely used the $5 million it set aside at the time.
More: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9127877&source=NLT_PM