Microsoft Kills Rustock Botnet
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In cooperation with federal law enforcement, Microsoft has announced they managed to take out the prolific Rustock botnet. Rustock was responsible for almost half of the spam in 2010, and its command and control system was highly complicated. Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit spent months investigating the botnet, eventually working with US Marshals to physically seize servers.
The action, with the catchy codename Operation b107, managed to sever the botnet's control over 1 million infected PCs. By examining the seized servers, Microsoft and federal agents used both technical and legal means to silence Rustock just yesterday. Security researchers confirm that the botnet appears to be offline, but question whether it will stay that way.
It's good to hear that a malicious botnet is out of commission, but it looks like other botnets have picked up the slack in spam routing. Do you think there is a better way to deal with botnets and the volume of spam?
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Wareagle
March 19, 2011 at 3:14pm
I've heard for a long time that Microsoft is secretly able to backdoor into people's Windows PCs. Is that how they were able to find the computers in the botnet?
If not, why did the feds need Microsoft's help?
Caboose
March 19, 2011 at 8:23pm
Shhh! Don't talk about such things. The government has satellites in orbit that can pick up on these types of conversations.
And don't even think about unplugging your computer. They can hack in to it even when its in pieces around your house and buried under ground.
See, they captured me years ago, performed all kinds of weird experiements on me, but I escaped, and I learned about what they're doing.
But the material used to make juice boxes, that will keep their mind reading beams out of your head! Oh, and don't go outside without one on your head. They'll control your thoughts too!
hades_2100
March 19, 2011 at 3:40pm
Once you have control over the Command&Control server, you check what computers have connected to it and are getting connected to it..
I believe the article states Microsoft led the investigation and US Marshalls were used to secure the physical servers.
don2041
March 18, 2011 at 4:27pm
If and when they catch the owners of these servers, they should tie the owners to a chair and force them to read nothing but spam for the rest of their natural lives . no food no water, their lives wont be long
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