Microsoft offers $250,000
From telegraph.co.uk link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/technology/microsoft/4611944/Microsoft-offers-250000-bounty-for-Conficker-creators.html
Microsoft has placed at $250,000 bounty on the head of the people behind a computer virus that infected more than 15 million machines.
The worm, known variously as Conficker, Downadup and Kido, burrowed its way into an estimated 15 million computers worldwide, providing hackers, spammers and cybercriminals with a 'back door' into people's machines, and making Windows users vulnerable to identity fraud and ID theft.
The virus takes advantage of a vulnerability in the operating system to burrow deep into the computer's files, folders and System Registry, which stores settings and options for Windows. Once installed, hackers and spammers are able to remotely download more malicious programs to the computer, or even use the worm to help install software that will enable them to track and steal security information, such as banking logins or credit card information.
The software company is offering a reward for information that leads to the capture and conviction of the virus authors, because it views the worm as a criminal attack.
"This development shouldn't surprise anyone," said Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant for anti-virus firm Sophos. "Microsoft's reputation is badly shaken whenever a computer virus causes widespread problems for its users.
"Offering substantial rewards can do no harm. If a culprit isn't found then Microsoft hasn't lost anything, and it may just entice some members of the computer underground to come forward with information. People considering releasing malware in the future should take careful note of this and think again."
It's not the first time Microsoft has offered a reward for information leading to the capture of a cybercriminal. In November 2003, it slapped a $500,000 bounty on the authors of the Blaster and Sobig worms, and in May 2004, it paid $250,000 to a group of informants who enabled the prosecution of Sven Jaschan, the German teenager of the Sasser and Netsky viruses.
"The big question is whether the Conficker bounty is big enough," said Cluley. "$250,000 may have been enough to identify Sven Jaschan, a German teenager infecting computers for kicks.
"But is it going to be enough to encourage someone to inform on an organised criminal gang, making large amounts of money out of malware?"
**What do u think about it guys?**
moshbat wrote: [quote]ShadyTyrant wrote: More of a reason for people to switch to a flavor of Linux like I just did. Disgusting flavor. Anyway. You can still hack Linux, you know. You're still not safe.[/quote]
I know, the only safe computer is one that is turned off locked in a room buried deep underground and guarded by armed men. Even then some one will talk there way into that room.
ShadyTyrant wrote: [quote]moshbat wrote: [quote]ShadyTyrant wrote: More of a reason for people to switch to a flavor of Linux like I just did. Disgusting flavor. Anyway. You can still hack Linux, you know. You're still not safe.[/quote]
I know, the only safe computer is one that is turned off locked in a room buried deep underground and guarded by armed men. Even then some one will talk there way into that room. [/quote]
there is already someone who can enter (Chuck Norris with Mc Giver's help) :D lol
ShadyTyrant wrote: [quote]moshbat wrote: [quote]ShadyTyrant wrote: More of a reason for people to switch to a flavor of Linux like I just did. Disgusting flavor. Anyway. You can still hack Linux, you know. You're still not safe.[/quote]
I know, the only safe computer is one that is turned off locked in a room buried deep underground and guarded by armed men. Even then some one will talk there way into that room. [/quote]
Been reading richohealy's sig? (old sig??? I know it was one of his sigs). Yeah, it's nice. But that's not true, computers CAN be secured; they're just often not. The reason linux systems are often not effected by virus' is that there are so many distros of GNU/Linux that you can't write one virus for them all like you can lots of windows systems. They can still be hacked just as easily as windows systems often times.
The reason linux systems are often not effected by virus' is that there are so many distros of GNU/Linux that you can't write one virus for them all like you can lots of windows systems. They can still be hacked just as easily as windows systems often times.
I have a different point of view on this one. I think it's not that it is harder to hack linux, it's just that the information isn't as readily available as it is for windows. I mean do a google search for "Windows password location". I found 3 ways in the top 6 results. Now do the same for linux. Looking at the top results page there are 5 distros. Now which one do you need, and how do you know for sure?
Well, I think that each person in Ukraine must pay 250000/46200000 $ as a bounty! :p
@korg How much do you take for disinfecting a box? I do this for free… Maybe I should take money from now on. :p
my guess is the people WILL get caught, but hear me out first, they will either not have enough evidence to convict them, or they'll live in some other country (most likely) and there country wont prosecute them properly where they'll either get off with a slap on the wrist and be out in a week or two or they'll only get a couple years in prison, OR (sorry last one) my favorite, they would have made so much money for it, the will either bribe there way out or they will post bail and be long gone before all the evidence is collected and processed. either way the punishment isn't that bad.