Microsoft offers $250,000 reward for arrest of author MyDoom.B virus

[Big Mike]

Microsoft offers $250,000 reward for arrest of author MyDoom.B virus

WASHINGTON (AP) - Microsoft Corp. promised Thursday to pay $250,000 to anyone who helps authorities find and prosecute the author of a fast-spreading computer virus.

The cash reward is the third so far under a $5-million program Microsoft announced in early November to help U.S. authorities nab authors of unusually damaging Internet infections aimed at consumers of the company's software products. The MyDoom.B virus, spread by e-mail, causes victims to launch an electronic attack starting Tuesday against Microsoft's own website and prevents victims from visiting the websites of leading anti-virus companies. The virus poses as an authentic-looking error message.

Among the only clues to the identity of the possible author is a mysterious message inside the virus: "Andy; I'm just doing my job, nothing personal, sorry."

"This worm is a criminal attack," said Brad Smith, Microsoft's senior vice-president and general counsel.

"Microsoft wants to help the authorities catch this criminal."

Microsoft urged anyone with information about the author of the MyDoom.B virus to contact the FBI, Secret Service or Interpol.

The company targeted by an earlier version of the same virus, The SCO Group Inc., previously offered a $250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the creator of the Mydoom.A version, which is more widespread. Experts have said the same person probably created both versions.

Government officials and others have described the $250,000 rewards as the highest in recent memory funded entirely by the private sector - akin to cash bounties paid in the late 1800s by U.S. banks to vigilantes who hunted robbers.

Internal FBI documents indicate the U.S. government is a cautious supporter of Microsoft offering cash bounties.

FBI officials in October gave conditional approval to Microsoft for the concept. But they cautioned they won't share secret details of any investigation with Microsoft executives and won't promise to launch any formal investigation whenever the company announces a reward.

In the documents, obtained under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, the FBI said it was developing "a more formal operating protocol for working with Microsoft" and with other companies that want to offer similar rewards.

Microsoft said residents of any country are eligible for the $250,000. The company has said previously it will not pay rewards to anyone involved in creating the viruses.

Previous rewards of $250,000 each were offered for information about those responsible for the Blaster and Sobig viruses, which spread rapidly last summer among hundreds of thousands of computers running Windows.

LINK: http://canadaeast.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...9/CPW/21703023

[joedokes]

I did it. SOmeone turn me in and we'll split the 250k.

[Liftingchic]

hehehe :kekekegay

[IronPaul]

Microsoft gets all the coverage when Linux was the first to get hit and create the same reward a week earlier. Yup, the press is bought and paid for. :secret:

[Big Mike]

Originally Posted by IronPaul

Microsoft gets all the coverage when Linux was the first to get hit and create the same reward a week earlier. Yup, the press is bought and paid for. :secret:

maybe im reading your post wrong but my doom is not designed to infect linux, as with most virii, and if you think it is, i encourage you to enter this contest and see if ya can win some cash http://www.silicon.com/software/secu...1028211,00.htm

that contest has been up for 3 years and has yet to have anyone infect it :)

[Technobarbie]

:user:

[IronPaul]

Yup, you're reading my post wrong. As usual. :)

[Big Mike]

Originally Posted by IronPaul

Yup, you're reading my post wrong. As usual. :)

one of these days I'll pick up on your canadian post style ;)

[IronPaul]

My understanding of this whole Linux/Microsoft thing is as follows-

Microsoft is looking to take over Linux and being the savvy business people they are the lower the share price for Linux the better. Linux gets attacked by this virus just as negotiations are heating up and share prices drop in the fear that Linux may not be as invincible as some thought. A reward is issued for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is behind this virus. Naturally the executives at Linux and the media hint that it may be someone who wants to do Microsoft a favour.
Sure enough a few days later Microsoft screams that they now are victims too of some malicious programmer and also offer an award.

Refering to the article you provided- would any self-respecting programmer step forward for the U.K. reward which wouldn't even cover U.S. bail money, let alone fines & imprisonment? No doubt that character in the U.K. would also expect the programmer to provide all his/her secrets to collect the prize. Contests like that have usually resulted in dozens of successful attacks against various systems with the programmer remaining in the shadows.

Make any sense?