MS forms anti-Conficker alliance

Industry group to combine efforts, reward offered.

Microsoft

has announced a collaborative effort to combat the Conficker (aka Downadup) botnet, the widespread infection making headlines over the past few weeks. In addition,

Microsoft

is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of the botnet’s creators.

The partnership includes web management groups such as ICANN and the Public Internet Registry, major online players such as

AOL

and

VeriSign

, and security firms including

Symantec

,

F-Secure

and

Arbor Networks

. They will work together, sharing information and resources with the aim of disrupting the activities of the botnet and bringing it down.

Microsoft

combined the announcement with news that a reward of $250,000 is being made available as an incentive for anyone with information on those behind the malware infection. The move revives an old programme of rewards, which was previously effective in tracking down the creator of the notorious

Sasser worm

.

Microsoft

‘s announcement of both the partnership and the reward is

here

. More on the project is blogged by alliance members

ShadowServer


here

and

Symantec


here

, with news coverage of the reward offer at

The Register


here

.

Posted on 13 February 2009 by

Virus Bulletin