Thursday, September 13, 2012

Microsoft In Major Botnet Disruption Operation

Microsoft said this morning that it has disrupted a major botnet, as part of a Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit operation. Microsoft said that its "Operation b70" disrupted the Nitol botnet, by disrupting more than 500 different strains of malware which were being distributed through counterfeit Windows software. Microsoft said it had found that cybercriminals were introducing counterfeit software embedded with malware directly into the computer sales and support supply chain. Microsoft said a distributors and resellers were receiving those products from unknown or unauthorized sources, allowing those criminals to steal financial and other information from users. Those users bought new PCs were completely un-aware that those computers were already pre-infected with malware. Microsoft's malware action was approved in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and revolved around the 3322.org domain.