Microsoft takes down Rustock botnet, seizes equipment and files suit.
18 replies, posted
[quote="Neowin"]Microsoft has unleashed its legal dragnet in an attempt to take down the Rustock botnet. According to [url="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703328404576207173861008758.html"]WSJ[/url], the botnet, which consists of approximately 150,000 computers around the globe, is capable of sending 30 billion spam messages a day. 150,000 is the most conservative estimate of its size, and some have measured the amount of infected PCs to be upwards of 24 million. Symantec has measured the botnet to be responsible for more than half of the spam messages in 2010.
Microsoft, with the help of federal law enforcement, seized physical computer equipment believed to be the command and control servers for the botnet. Agents went into facilities in Kansas City, MO,; Scranton, PA,; Denver, CO,; Dallas, TX,; Chicago, IL,; Seattle, WA,; and Columbus, OH to retrieve equipment in an effort to “decapitate” the operation, according to Microsoft officials.
Richard Boscovich, senior attorney in Microsoft’s digital crime unit, said that the operation “has been 100% effective.” After the seizure was complete, Microsoft issued a lawsuit to “John Does 1-11,” as no identities have surfaced as leaders of the botnet as of yet. Symantec reported that Rustock stopped all spam activity at roughly 11:30 PM EST Wednesday evening, just after Microsoft started its operation.
This is not the first time Microsoft has actively and aggressively taken steps to bring down a botnet operation. In February 2010, [url="http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-helps-smash-massive-botnet"]Microsoft helped take down the similarly huge Waledac botnet.[/url][/quote]
Source: [url]http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-takes-down-rustock-botnet-seizes-equipement-and-files-suit[/url]
WSJ Source: [url]http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703328404576207173861008758.html[/url]
Feb Source: [url]http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-helps-smash-massive-botnet[/url]
And all of this could be prevented if people simply knew how to properly use antivirus software. :colbert:
Nice, My inbox will thank them
Microsoft has turned into a really great company in the past decade.
[quote]is capable of sending 30 billion spam messages a day. [/quote]
Holy shit.
Oh shit, did i donate 1000 dollars to a scam? :O
[editline]18th March 2011[/editline]
Never donate to anyone. Not even to the victims in other countries. The victims never recive their money. Only food that lasts 1 day.
[QUOTE=Madman_Andre;28670835]And all of this could be prevented if people simply knew how to properly use antivirus software. :colbert:[/QUOTE]
Or if Microsoft was capable of integrating proper security measures into the system.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;28670900]Or if Microsoft was capable of integrating proper security measures into the system.[/QUOTE]
Wasn't there an antitrust lawsuit around Microsoft including IE with windows?
And that's just a web browser, imagine the shitstorm Norton would've kicked up back then
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;28670900]Or if Microsoft was capable of integrating proper security measures into the system.[/QUOTE]
They would never be allowed to do that, since "the user needs the freedom to choose the software they like" bullshit.
And said user would most likely install a Antivirus from 2005, just because it came with their computer.
They can nag people to install a decent antivirus, but that's it.
[editline]18th March 2011[/editline]
semi-ninja'd
[QUOTE=Noth;28670957]Wasn't there an antitrust lawsuit around Microsoft including IE with windows?
And that's just a web browser, imagine the shitstorm Norton would've kicked up back then[/QUOTE]
Yes there were threats by all the major companies who stated if Microsoft were to integrate AV software (MSE) into Windows that they would sue them.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;28670900]Or if Microsoft was capable of integrating proper security measures into the system.[/QUOTE]
Microsoft is in a corner when it comes to security procedures.
Every pc that is part of a botnet for such a long time should get nuked it's BIOS or files remotely.
Idiots who cannot protect their PCs properly are a danger and nuisance for all of us and don't deserve internet access.
horray for capitalism. again. basically preventing microsoft from assing in security and then advertising PCs are more virus prone than macs. GJ apple, you have once again illustrated why i will never buy a product from you.
[QUOTE=Noth;28670957]Wasn't there an antitrust lawsuit around Microsoft including IE with windows?
And that's just a web browser, imagine the shitstorm Norton would've kicked up back then[/QUOTE]
I am talking about the bazzilion security holes in the system itself, insecure separation of system and user sector, and other whiz. I am not saying there's any unhackable alternative, but I dare to say Windows just always were insecure and easily exploitable by design. There are holes in the ship's hull, and antivirus is a bucket you use to get the water out and keep it floating. If the hull had less holes, the bucket wouldn't be that important.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;28673136]I am talking about the bazzilion security holes in the system itself, insecure separation of system and user sector, and other whiz. I am not saying there's any unhackable alternative, but I dare to say Windows just always were insecure and easily exploitable by design. There are holes in the ship's hull, and antivirus is a bucket you use to get the water out and keep it floating. If the hull had less holes, the bucket wouldn't be that important.[/QUOTE]
Same with OSX, it's just that so few people use it compared to windows that "Shady organizations" wont really bother with it.
Especially since you can pick up a computer with Windows on it down at Wal-Mart or any other larger supermarkets, while you can't with Apple products.
[QUOTE=Van-man;28673193]Same with OSX, it's just that so few people use it compared to windows that "Shady organizations" wont really bother with it.
Especially since you can pick up a computer with Windows on it down at Wal-Mart or any other larger supermarkets, while you can't with Apple products.[/QUOTE]
And I am saying that this is not true. Of course, you CAN get into it, there's no denying of that, but there are more reasons than just lower unit count which make it harder.
[editline]18th March 2011[/editline]
Not to mention that I don't consider OSX as the best secured system anyway.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;28673308]And I am saying that this is not true. Of course, you CAN get into it, there's no denying of that, but there are more reasons than just lower unit count which make it harder.
[editline]18th March 2011[/editline]
Not to mention that I don't consider OSX as the best secured system anyway.[/QUOTE]
Not really. Plenty of exploits about for OS X and Linux, just nobody bothers because - well why? Windows Vista and above are plenty secure.
[QUOTE=Madman_Andre;28670835]And all of this could be prevented if people simply knew how to properly use antivirus software. :colbert:[/QUOTE]
that's like saying murder could be prevented if people simply knew how to defend themselves.
Most people don't know how to defend themselves effectively, just like a fair amount of people don't know how to use an anti-virus.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;28673308]And I am saying that this is not true. Of course, you CAN get into it, there's no denying of that, but there are more reasons than just lower unit count which make it harder.
[editline]18th March 2011[/editline]
Not to mention that I don't consider OSX as the best secured system anyway.[/QUOTE]
You would be surprised on how many security holes there is in OSX.
But since "out of sight means out of mind", then people THINK OSX is more secure than windows.
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