REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 29, 2004 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that it will pay a $250,000 (U.S.) reward for information resulting in the arrest and conviction of those responsible for unleashing the MyDoom.B worm. MyDoom.B, detected yesterday, is a variant of the earlier released MyDoom.A worm, also known as the Novarg worm, which has spread quickly infecting computers around the world. The release of this B variant triggered the first alert from the newly formed Department of Homeland Securitys cyber alert system yesterday.
Characteristics of MyDoom.B
Characteristics of the B variant of MyDoom include these:
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Infects the computers of unsuspecting consumers and automatically sends infecting e-mail to their e-mail contacts
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Blocks access to anti-virus vendor Web sites and www.microsoft.com
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Leaves a backdoor into infected computers, allowing any hacker to modify the existing worm without the users knowledge
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Is designed to launch an attack against www.microsoft.com next month
This worm is a criminal attack, said Brad Smith, senior vice president and general counsel at Microsoft. Its intent is to disrupt computer users, but also to keep them from getting to anti-virus locations and other sites that could help them. Microsoft wants to help the authorities catch this criminal.
Residents of any country are eligible for the reward, according to the laws of that country, because Internet viruses affect the Internet community worldwide.
Partnership Program With Law Enforcement
Representatives of three law enforcement agencies, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U. S. Secret Service and Interpol, joined Microsoft to unveil the companys $5 million reward program in November. All three agencies have engaged Microsoft in their investigations of this most recent worm.
Individuals with information about the MyDoom worm or any other worms or viruses should contact the following international law enforcement agencies:
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International/Interpol via the Interpol National Central Bureau in any of Interpols 181 member countries or at http://www.interpol.int/
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FBI or Secret Service via any local field office
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The Internet Fraud Complaint Center at http://www.ifccfbi.gov/
Microsoft has made security a top priority and is committed to developing the most secure software possible and making it easier for customers to help protect themselves against attacks launched by malicious law breakers. The company has taken numerous steps to alert users to steps they can take to help protect themselves, including the Protect Your PC campaign. This information is available at http://www.microsoft.com/protect/. While working hard to improve the security of its software, Microsoft also cooperates with international, federal and state law enforcement to help bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software any time, any place and on any device.
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