Tech & Biz

Microsoft Bounty for Downadup/Conficker Virus Creator

by mazevedo | February 13, 2009 at 10:17 am

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According to Arbor Networks the Downadup/Conficker Virus has already affected as many as 12 million computers worldwide. Microsoft is now offering $250,000 to whoever finds who is behind the virus.

Since it started circulating in October 2008 the Conficker worm has managed to infect millions of computers worldwide.

The software giant is offering the cash reward because it views the Conficker worm as a criminal attack.

"People who write this malware have to be held accountable," said George Stathakopulos, of Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing Group.

He told BBC News the company was "not prepared to sit back and let this kind of activity go unchecked".

"Our message is very clear - whoever wrote this caused significant pain to our customers and we are sending a message that we will do everything we can to help with your arrest," said Mr Stathakopulos.

The virus affects machines via network connection or by hiding inside USB drives. What makes this worm so annoying is that once inside your system it starts digging through your files and setting up defense mechanisms and self-replicating itself so that it becomes hard for extraction.

Microsoft claims it still dosen't know the intention of the virus' creator and it has partned with other security companies and internet companies in order to seek the responsible for this worm.

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