Microsoft offers US$5m bounty to catch hackers

Microsoft has announced the creation of a US$5 million bounty destined to help law enforcement agencies identify and bring to justice those who illegally release damaging worms, viruses and other types of malicious code on the Internet.

Under the 'Anti-Virus Reward Program', Microsoft will provide rewards for information resulting in the arrest and conviction of Internet hackers and virus authors and according to the laws of that country, residents of any country are eligible for the reward.

The senior vice president and general counsel at Microsoft, Brad Smith, said: "Malicious worms and viruses are criminal attacks on everyone who uses the Internet.

"Even as we work to make software more secure and educate users on how to protect themselves, we are also working to stamp out the criminal behaviour that causes this problem. These are not just Internet crimes, cybercrimes or virtual crimes. These are real crimes that hurt a lot of people. Those who release viruses on the Internet are the saboteurs of cyberspace, and Microsoft wants to help the authorities catch them."

At the unveiling today, representatives of three law enforcement agencies, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Secret Service and Interpol, backed the Microsoft reward program.

Speaking from Interpol headquarters in Lyon, Secretary General Ronald K Noble said: "Interpol is particularly interested in fighting the malicious spreading of viruses because this represents truly borderless crime that requires a truly global response, a global collaboration between police and private industry.

"This Microsoft reward program is an opportunity to continue building effective relationships between the world’s police and the private sector in order to prevent and prosecute cybercrime."

Individuals with relevant information should contact the following international law enforcement agencies:

• Interpol
• The Internet Fraud Complaint Center
• Any FBI or Secret Service local field office

The first reward US$ 250,000 has been allocated for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for unleashing the MSBlast.A worm. Although two arrests were made in connection with the subsequent B and C variants of MSBlast, the original A worm perpetrator is still at large.

Microsoft offered a second quarter-million-dollar reward for information that results in the arrest and conviction of those responsible for unleashing the Sobig virus. No arrests are known to have been made in connection with the Sobig virus.

(SP)