EU Gumshoe Chases Internet Villains

Robert Haskins writes "The Pittsburg Post-Gazette is carrying an interesting Wall Street Journal story about a guy who works for Microsoft and chases virus writers, software counterfeiters, spammers and other suspected law breakers. Can companies really make a difference by helping law enforcement like this?" From the article: "Mr. Fifka isn't a cop. He works for Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Safety Enforcement Team. Created in 2002, the group is part of the U.S. software giant's intensifying efforts to combat cyber crime at a time when consumers and businesses are becoming increasingly frustrated with fraud and virus attacks on their personal computers, most of which use Microsoft's Windows operating system. As Internet crime proliferates, law enforcement is relying more on the private sector to help counter it. That's because tracking cyber criminals requires a different set of skills than police have traditionally used. Compounding the challenge is the speed at which new online threats are morphing."

Comments

Hmmm...

[MightyMartian]

It was a hot dark night when she came in. You know the kind of night, and you know the kind of broad. Both could make you sweat, and knock you on your ass.

I'd sent my secretary home early. I had no cases, but a half-bottle of whiskey and a revolver. When she walked in, I was a little past feeling good and ready to shoot.

"I'm lookin' for Porn, Sam Porn. You him?" she asked in a voice that made me melt.

"What's it to ya, lady?" I asked, half-hoping she'd answer, half-hoping she'd leave.

"I've got this web site, see." she replied. "It's kinky and cute, straight tits and ass. But now somebody's busted in, all kinds of bondage. I need someone with guts and brawn, and maybe some brain. I can pay. Thousand big ones now, five more if you can catch the perv."

My smarter half said leave this dame alone. She was trouble, and that was for sure. But the rent had to be paid, and I didn't even have half a bottle of whiskey.

Re:On the futility of treating the symptoms

[DrEldarion]

Spyware is usually user-installed (usually disguised as or alongside of a useful program). Any operating system where users are allowed to install software is vulnerable to spyware.

P.I.I.

[Foobar of Borg]

"It was a hot day in Brno and I was hoping to take the day off. I looked out the smudged window of my sixth-story office holding my two best friends in my hands. The first is my .9 mm, I keep it loaded. The other is a bottle of vodka. It keeps me loaded.

Yep, it was just another boring day until a client showed up. He was all boo-hooing over something that was after his business and acting all irrational, but then clients are like that. It seems some computer virus was out to get his software and I needed this mess like I needed a Windows upgrade. Which made sense in its own twisted sort of way. You see, the client was Bill Gates.

I'm Peter Fifka, and I'm a Private Internet Investigator."

that's worrisome

[cahiha]

As Internet crime proliferates, law enforcement is relying more on the private sector to help counter it.

That's a big concern. People who work in law enforcement should not also have other kinds of interests. Even without deliberate abuse of power, someone who comes from a corporate environment will bring his own set of prejudices and interests to the table. For example, someone working for Microsoft may be more interested in pursuing piracy using Linux and less interested in tracking down people who write viruses that infect Macintosh. It also may lead to a situation where the primary means of getting the police to do something is to pay someone lots of money; it is even more disconcerting that those someones are ex-police, which really is getting pretty close to outright corruption.

If you think about it, it is also truly bizarre that companies like Microsoft find it easier to finance a private police force to track down virus writers than to fix their software.

That is the problem

[Nom du Keyboard]

combat cyber crime at a time when consumers and businesses are becoming increasingly frustrated with fraud and virus attacks on their personal computers, most of which use Microsoft's Windows operating system.

That is the problem.

A more secure operating system with tools to identify and filter out malware is the solution.

This is just paint over dryrot.

Nextime Gumshoe, Nextime

[EmperorKagato]

I bet he can't capture Carmen_Sandiego. No one can catch her!

Electronic Crimes Task Force

[xorowo]

In specific response to these types of issues, the Secret Service established the Electronic Crimes Task Force. I had the opportunity to tour their Los Angeles operations center and was impressed by their technical resources and capability.

They described how they act as an intermediate body for all law enforcement agencies involved in computer crime. From forensic analysis to crime-scene procedure, they were designed to both advise and participate. I can't speak to any specific crimes that they had been involved in, but it seemed like the idea, if handled properly, was a good one.

When I visited in 2003, they were just ramping up. They had already been assisting local law enforcement, but seemed to still be moving in. Most of the "tech" was in place, including massive file servers and clean rooms, but the individual offices looked sparse, with boxes still unpacked. I was half expecting it to look like something out of the movies - darkened, secretive, maybe in a cave somewhere - but it was just on the 13th floor of a standard downtown office building with all the harsh amenities of a 30-year old downtown high rise.

I would certainly hope that what they spared in decoration was made up by the effectiveness at solving these crimes.