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Microsoft Offers $250,000 Reward For Botnet Info

Posted by Soulskill on from the dead-or-alive dept.

Orome1 writes "Microsoft decided to extend their efforts to establish the identity of those responsible for controlling the Rustock botnet by issuing a $250,000 reward for new information that results in the identification, arrest and criminal conviction of such individual(s). 'While the primary goal for our legal and technical operation has been to stop and disrupt the threat that Rustock has posed for everyone affected by it, we also believe the Rustock bot-herders should be held accountable for their actions.' Residents of any country are eligible for the reward pursuant to the laws of that country."

7 of 99 comments (clear)

  1. I wonder if the $250,000 reward by h1q · · Score: 1, Insightful

    will successfully direct attention away from Microsoft's failure to secure their operating system?

    1. Re:I wonder if the $250,000 reward by RazzleFrog · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The only secure operating system is one not connected to any network, locked in a closet with no user interface.

    2. Re:I wonder if the $250,000 reward by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      no worries.. there's always people like you to make sure the fud stays front and center..

    3. Re:I wonder if the $250,000 reward by SCHecklerX · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yes, but there are conservative configurations and best practices that avoid most of the problems. And Microsoft ignored these things for years. Even today, they think that inbound blocking on client systems not on a trusted domain is enough. You can go anywhere that there are windows clients (airports are great candidates), and you'll see all kinds of friggin' netbios broadcasts from machines that KNOW they are on an untrusted network. WHY?

  2. This a Faustian bargain, isn't it? by elrous0 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Let me guess, you get the $250,000 in pennies? Or maybe you get it, only to die an hour later?

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  3. Re:The Ultimate Irony by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If I had a spare $250k laying around I'd pay to see that.

    With that sort of priority, it shouldn't be any surprise that you do not have a 'spare $250K laying around', in the first place.

  4. Re:nice try by Ruke · · Score: 5, Insightful

    On the other hand, a lot of problems can be solved by throwing money at them. If I "knew a guy" who ran a botnet, you can bet that I'd sell his ass to Microsoft for five years' salary.