trthing
11-05-2003, 02:00 PM
http://money.cnn.com/2003/11/05/technology/microsoft_bounty.reut/index.htm?CNN=yes
"LONDON (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. and security organizations are set to offer cash bounties for information on the authors of the crippling MSBlast and Sobig computer bugs, industry sources said Wednesday.
Technology news service CNET News.com reported late Tuesday that the software giant would offer $500,000 for information leading to the arrest of the writers of two of the costliest computer bug outbreaks to hit the Internet.
Computer experts contacted by Reuters across Europe confirmed a cash reward was on the cards.
The bugs wreaked havoc across the world in August and September, attacking computers that run on Microsoft Windows operating systems.
Interpol could not be reached for comment.
Security experts familiar with the ongoing cyber dragnet said the trail had recently run cold. The unprecedented lure of cash was seen as a way to generate new leads, sources said.
"Apparently they haven't had too much luck, which is why they are resorting to offering money, which could work for Blaster," said Mikko Hypponen, research manager at Finnish anti-virus firm F-Secure.
Blaster, also known as MSBlast or LovSan, triggered a torrent of data traffic across the Internet, bogging down corporate networks and knocking some machines offline.
Theories abound that the author wrote the worm to impress a girl, possibly named "San" -- short for Sandy. "I could see a teenager snitching on that one. SoBig is a different story. I think that's the work of an organization or group," Hypponen said. ..."
"LONDON (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. and security organizations are set to offer cash bounties for information on the authors of the crippling MSBlast and Sobig computer bugs, industry sources said Wednesday.
Technology news service CNET News.com reported late Tuesday that the software giant would offer $500,000 for information leading to the arrest of the writers of two of the costliest computer bug outbreaks to hit the Internet.
Computer experts contacted by Reuters across Europe confirmed a cash reward was on the cards.
The bugs wreaked havoc across the world in August and September, attacking computers that run on Microsoft Windows operating systems.
Interpol could not be reached for comment.
Security experts familiar with the ongoing cyber dragnet said the trail had recently run cold. The unprecedented lure of cash was seen as a way to generate new leads, sources said.
"Apparently they haven't had too much luck, which is why they are resorting to offering money, which could work for Blaster," said Mikko Hypponen, research manager at Finnish anti-virus firm F-Secure.
Blaster, also known as MSBlast or LovSan, triggered a torrent of data traffic across the Internet, bogging down corporate networks and knocking some machines offline.
Theories abound that the author wrote the worm to impress a girl, possibly named "San" -- short for Sandy. "I could see a teenager snitching on that one. SoBig is a different story. I think that's the work of an organization or group," Hypponen said. ..."