Microsoft Puts Bounty on Virus Creators

Microsoft Puts $5 Million Bounty on Virus Creators

Microsoft announced Wednesday it is creating a $5 million reward program to help law enforcement identify and convict those who illegally release worms, viruses and other types of malicious programs on the Internet.

Microsoft said the first two rewards it will offer will be for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the spread of the MSBlast.A worm and the SoBig virus unleashed earlier this year.

The company offered $250,000 rewards for each.

These Wild West bounty hunter tactics may be what is needed to rustle in those outlaws who are making these viruses.

The 250,000 bounty reward, confirmed by sources in both the security industry and in law enforcement, will be announced in a joint press conference with the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service and Interpol that’s scheduled for 10 a.m. EST Wednesday.

The rewards mark the latest move by Microsoft and law enforcement to track down the people responsible for infecting hundreds of thousands of computers in August and September. The U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI and Microsoft had earlier announced the arrests of two men who are suspected of modifying and releasing minor variations of the MSBlast worm.

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