Microsoft Slaps $250K Bounty On Conficker Worm

alphadogg writes "The spreading Conficker/Downadup worm is now viewed as such a significant threat that it's inspired the formation of a posse to stop it, with Microsoft leading the charge by offering a $250,000 reward to bring the Conficker malware bad guys to justice. The money will be paid for 'information that results in the arrest and conviction of those responsible for illegally launching the Conficker malicious code on the Internet,' Microsoft said today in a statement, adding it is fostering a partnership with Internet registries and DNA providers such as ICANN, ORG, and NeuStar as well as security vendors Symantec and Arbor Networks, among others, to stop the Conficker worm once and for all. Conficker, also called Downadup, is estimated to have infected at least 10 million PCs. It has been slowly but surely spreading since November. Its main trick is to disable anti-malware protection and block access to anti-malware vendors' Web sites."

Comments

The new business plan

[140Mandak262Jamuna]

1. Write malware for windows

2. Give it to a bunch of script kiddies anonymously in bulletin boards.

3. ...

4. Turn them in to MSFT for the bounty.

5. Profit

Re:The new business plan

[binarylarry]

Yes, I highly doubt the Hans Reiser defense is going to work that well here either.

In separate news, Microsoft budgeting an extra

[mkcmkc]

US$398 to fix security problems with their software...

*What* providers?

[nsayer]

DNA providers such as ICANN, ORG, and NeuStar

Hey, I'm a DNA provider too, baby.

Conflicker Flavors

[pyrrhonist]

From the article:

Symantec, which is contributing its malware-analysis expertise to the group, believes there are two main versions of Conflicker, "Flavor A" and "Flavor B,"

The flavors were determined using LOLCATS. True story.