Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft to Fight Crime With Spammer's Millions

Posted by samzenpus on from the crime-is-futile dept.

daria42 writes "It looks as if the $7 million Microsoft won from spam king Scott Richter won't go into a Swiss bank account and never be seen again after all. The company plans to dedicate a cool $5 mil to helping law enforcement agencies address computer-related crimes. Another $1 million will go to New York State to "expand computer-related skills training for youths and adults", with the rest being flagged to pay Microsoft's legal costs."

10 of 310 comments (clear)

  1. Hmm... by Darren+Winsper · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does this mean we're going to see Bill Gates in a bizarre spandex outfit combating spammers around the world? I smell a Ben Affleck film!

    1. Re:Hmm... by GreyPoopon · · Score: 4, Funny
      I smell a Ben Affleck film!

      No, that's my vomit that you smell. ;)

      --

      GreyPoopon
      --
      Why is it I can write insightful comments but can't come up with a clever signature?

    2. Re:Hmm... by hcpxvi · · Score: 2, Funny

      Surely, a benign thought compared to Steve Ballmer as Robin. Not to mention Linus as (duck now, you can hear it coming) the penguin.

    3. Re:Hmm... by rubberbando · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yes! And he will be known as the Spammy Avenger with his trusty sidekick, the Great Grape Ape (Steve Balmer painted purple).

      --
      DEAD DEAD DEAD DELETE ME
  2. Re:Dupe of the week by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    I guarantee this is not a dupe. I would certainly remember seeing MS doing something good :-)

  3. $1 mil for lawyer? by cloudmaster · · Score: 4, Funny

    This appeared to be a straightforward case, but somehow I can still see the lawyer, holding his pinkie to his mouth and saying "Sure, I can help you prosecute this spammer. For one million dollars!"

  4. See! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Spammers are good for community! Thanks to spammers, law enforcement and poor lawyers have been paid!

  5. Is the million dollars to New York by DrugCheese · · Score: 1, Funny

    by any chance in coupon form only redeemable for software from a certain software company?

    --
    *DrugCheese rants*
  6. The Unfortunate Truth by Chokai · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is reflected in today's cartoon by David Horsey in the Seattle-PI.

    We need to come up with something more agressive and effective. I for one am a fan of the much discussed idea DOS attacks against the spammers websites, despite the moral and ethical issues people have raised. A nice side effect is that it will somewhat discourage ISPs from hosting them also.

  7. I'm confused... by HogynCymraeg · · Score: 2, Funny

    which is the american government?