Microsoft Reward Leads to Arrest of Sasser Suspect

tritone writes "According to this article on CNET, it was a reward from Microsoft that led to the arrest of the perpertrator of the Sasser Windows Worm. This is the first success for Microsoft's Antivirus Award Program, a $5 million fund to reward people for coming forward with information about those who release major worms and viruses."

I wish...

[zaunuz]

...that MS would hand out those rewards to those who turned in people that used pirated versions of their software. Not that i care about Microsoft piracy at all, but I know a few assholes, and I could need the money.

Note to self...

[Black Parrot]

Don't go bragging about your next virus release.

Priceless

[ShieldW0lf]

This is the first success for Microsoft's Antivirus Award Program, a $5 million fund to reward people for coming forward with information about those who release major worms and viruses."

Reward Money: $5,000,000.00
Perps Pay: $5,000,000.00
Psychological Effect: Priceless!

That depends...

[PetoskeyGuy]

The $5 Million reward is only payable in Vouchers for Microsoft Software.

Re:Coming soon to the Microsoft website:

[Anonymous Coward]

Put Lunix Torvaldos at the top of the list.

More validation of Microsoft's central philosophy:

[Anonymous Coward]

Specifically: You can buy anything.

Re:I wish...

[Anonymous Coward]

...that MS would hand out those rewards to those who turned in people that used pirated versions of their software. Not that i care about Microsoft piracy at all, but I know a few assholes, and I could need the money.

Dude, now why would you go and turn yourself in?!?!

Business model . . .

[Idou]

1. Write worm
2. Find someone in severe financial trouble
3. Have that person release the worm from home computer
4. Turn that person in and collect the reward
5. Place 75% in a high interest foreign account and keep the rest
6. After the guy gets out of jail, send him a key to a safety deposit with all the information he needs to start a new life
7. Profit

Dear Microsoft

[adept256]

Thank you for outsourcing my debugging job to Germany.

Good like the lesser evil?

[Clinoti]

Other people are not happy that this guy was caught because you have to subtract the disappointment from the companies that profit from viruses, and adware, and spyware. Just another angle to look at.

I wonder if MS can keep up this effort and if we'll eventually start to see sponsored virii [viruslist.com] added to the real TCO for windows OS'. Oh wait.

to finish the sentence...

[Anonymous Coward]

It's going to take way more than $5million to clean up the Windows code.

with army of indian developers.

Actually . . .

[Idou]

"A: release it to the news/public and risk MS ire
or
B: Submit it confidentially to the MS bug track for a hefty reward"

That system already exists.It is called "Black Mail."

I should have the money too..

[sydtsai]

I always told M$ that their softwares are bloated and buggy, full of designing flaws...
Now, M$ should give me some money!

Re:Business model . . .

[ion++]

The information in the safety deposit is a note saying:

1. Write worm
2. Find someone in severe financial trouble
3. Have that person release the worm from home computer
4. Turn that person in and collect the reward
5. Place 75% in a high interest foreign account and keep the rest
6. After the guy gets out of jail, send him a key to a safety deposit with all the information he needs to start a new life
7. Profit

Re:That depends...

[Anonymous Coward]

That's almost enough for a legal copy of Windows XP and Office XP!

I wonder....

[Big Troller]

if the guy who made the virus would release his code under the GPL...? You know, to support the open source virus community (OSVC).... Imagine what kind of havoc that could be released on windows if this was to happen, and not to mention how it could help linux...? Think about it.. If viri where released left and right, one after another, all ways improving, and causing enough down time. I imagine companies would be dropping windows as fast as shit flies out of my ass after eating some hot and spicy indian food. Don't get me wrong, I love Indian food, but it sure goes through me sometimes.

Next on the Lifetime

[Anonymous Coward]

The Lifetime true-story, "My son hacked the world"

Re:Bounty Hunter

[jacquesm]

In a total panic virus writers flock to Borland !

In other news MS successfully argues in court that Borland should now be declared illegal because 'all those worms and viruses are written with this tool'.

Re:Note to self...

[Anonymous Coward]

$250k in the bank, free room and board for (up to) 5 years, and when you get out probably some sweet job offers from security companies? This might be better than university.

Love

[stefaanh]

Can't buy me looo-ove...

(sic the Beatles)