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Microsoft Reward Leads to Arrest of Sasser Suspect

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the thats-pretty-cool dept.

tritone writes "According to this article on CNET, it was a reward from Microsoft that led to the arrest of the perpertrator of the Sasser Windows Worm. This is the first success for Microsoft's Antivirus Award Program, a $5 million fund to reward people for coming forward with information about those who release major worms and viruses."

20 of 287 comments (clear)

  1. I wish... by zaunuz · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...that MS would hand out those rewards to those who turned in people that used pirated versions of their software. Not that i care about Microsoft piracy at all, but I know a few assholes, and I could need the money.

    --
    this is probably the most boring sig in the world
    1. Re:I wish... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
      ...that MS would hand out those rewards to those who turned in people that used pirated versions of their software. Not that i care about Microsoft piracy at all, but I know a few assholes, and I could need the money.
      Dude, now why would you go and turn yourself in?!?!
  2. Note to self... by Black+Parrot · · Score: 5, Funny


    Don't go bragging about your next virus release.

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    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
    1. Re:Note to self... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      $250k in the bank, free room and board for (up to) 5 years, and when you get out probably some sweet job offers from security companies? This might be better than university.

  3. Priceless by ShieldW0lf · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is the first success for Microsoft's Antivirus Award Program, a $5 million fund to reward people for coming forward with information about those who release major worms and viruses."

    Reward Money: $5,000,000.00
    Perps Pay: $5,000,000.00
    Psychological Effect: Priceless!

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    -1 Uncomfortable Truth
  4. That depends... by PetoskeyGuy · · Score: 5, Funny

    The $5 Million reward is only payable in Vouchers for Microsoft Software.

    1. Re:That depends... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      That's almost enough for a legal copy of Windows XP and Office XP!

  5. Re:Coming soon to the Microsoft website: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Put Lunix Torvaldos at the top of the list.

  6. More validation of Microsoft's central philosophy: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Specifically: You can buy anything.

  7. Business model . . . by Idou · · Score: 4, Funny

    1. Write worm
    2. Find someone in severe financial trouble
    3. Have that person release the worm from home computer
    4. Turn that person in and collect the reward
    5. Place 75% in a high interest foreign account and keep the rest
    6. After the guy gets out of jail, send him a key to a safety deposit with all the information he needs to start a new life
    7. Profit

    --
    Sdelat' Ameriku velikoy Snova!
    1. Re:Business model . . . by ion++ · · Score: 5, Funny

      The information in the safety deposit is a note saying:

      1. Write worm
      2. Find someone in severe financial trouble
      3. Have that person release the worm from home computer
      4. Turn that person in and collect the reward
      5. Place 75% in a high interest foreign account and keep the rest
      6. After the guy gets out of jail, send him a key to a safety deposit with all the information he needs to start a new life
      7. Profit

  8. Dear Microsoft by adept256 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Thank you for outsourcing my debugging job to Germany.

    --

    I ran a benchmark on my quantum computer, now I can't find it anywhere!
  9. Good like the lesser evil? by Clinoti · · Score: 5, Funny
    Other people are not happy that this guy was caught because you have to subtract the disappointment from the companies that profit from viruses, and adware, and spyware. Just another angle to look at.

    I wonder if MS can keep up this effort and if we'll eventually start to see sponsored virii added to the real TCO for windows OS'. Oh wait.

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    Let's keep in mind that patents are in place to keep lawyers employed and keep them litigating. -CatGrep

  10. to finish the sentence... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    It's going to take way more than $5million to clean up the Windows code.
    with army of indian developers.
  11. Actually . . . by Idou · · Score: 4, Funny

    "A: release it to the news/public and risk MS ire
    or
    B: Submit it confidentially to the MS bug track for a hefty reward"

    That system already exists.It is called "Black Mail."

    --
    Sdelat' Ameriku velikoy Snova!
  12. I should have the money too.. by sydtsai · · Score: 1, Funny

    I always told M$ that their softwares are bloated and buggy, full of designing flaws...
    Now, M$ should give me some money!

  13. I wonder.... by Big+Troller · · Score: 0, Funny

    if the guy who made the virus would release his code under the GPL...? You know, to support the open source virus community (OSVC).... Imagine what kind of havoc that could be released on windows if this was to happen, and not to mention how it could help linux...? Think about it.. If viri where released left and right, one after another, all ways improving, and causing enough down time. I imagine companies would be dropping windows as fast as shit flies out of my ass after eating some hot and spicy indian food. Don't get me wrong, I love Indian food, but it sure goes through me sometimes.

  14. Next on the Lifetime by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The Lifetime true-story, "My son hacked the world"

  15. Re:Bounty Hunter by jacquesm · · Score: 2, Funny
    In a total panic virus writers flock to Borland !

    In other news MS successfully argues in court that Borland should now be declared illegal because 'all those worms and viruses are written with this tool'.

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    MP3 Search Engine
  16. Love by stefaanh · · Score: 2, Funny

    Can't buy me looo-ove...

    (sic the Beatles)

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    * Sigh *