Microsoft Leads Sting Operation Against Zeus Botnets 114
wiredmikey writes "Microsoft, in what it called its 'most complex effort to disrupt botnets to date,' and in collaboration with partners from the financial services industry, has successfully taken down operations that fuel a number of botnets that make up the notorious Zeus family of malware. In what Microsoft is calling 'Operation b71,' Microsoft and its co-plaintiffs, escorted by U.S. Marshals, seized command and control (C&C) servers in two hosting locations on March 23 in Scranton, Pennsylvania and Lombard, Illinois. The move was to seize and preserve data and evidence from the botnets for the case. In addition to seizing the C&C servers, the group took down two IP addresses behind the Zeus command and control structure, and secured 800 domains that Microsoft is now monitoring and using to help identify computers infected by Zeus."
Dunder Mifflin? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Physical Seizures? (Score:5, Funny)
I probably shouldn't be admitting this online- but I am part of Microsoft's counter-terror department. We are a highly trained SWAT team that risks our life daily raiding LINUX farms. Our safety demands daily communication using Windows phones; it is one of the most dangerous jobs in the country.
We are highly trained in many ways to take on any situation needed. Even take out the Prez if he threatens to sign any bill that would not be favourable of Microsoft. We constantly run into our major foe, Apple, and fight hand-to-hand combat in the street and the patent office.
After announcing this initiative, I am in grave danger. Within a few weeks I will be tracked by other operatives by the GPS on my windows phone... if the battery doesn't die first.
Re:Physical Seizures? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Congratulations (Score:4, Funny)
It seems that Microsoft has become a good guy while Apple is rapidly becoming a goat. ... Or have I spoken too soon?
Microsoft didn't just do this to be a "good guy". Microsoft's been able to take this step by arguing that the botnet operators have been violating its trademarks and damaging its reputation [tgdaily.com].