[AfrICANN-discuss] Microsoft Collaborates With Industry to Disrupt Conficker Worm

[Anne-Rachel Inné]

 News Alert

http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-12feb09-en.htm
 ------------------------------
 Microsoft Collaborates With Industry to Disrupt Conficker Worm

12 February 2009

Today, Microsoft announced a partnership with technology industry leaders
and academia to implement a coordinated, global response to the Conficker
(aka Downadup) worm.

Together with security researchers, the Internet Corporation for Assigned
Names and Numbers (ICANN), and operators within the Domain Name System,
Microsoft coordinated a response designed to disable domains targeted by
Conficker. Microsoft also announced a $250,000 reward for information that
results in the arrest and conviction of those responsible for illegally
launching the Conficker malicious code on the Internet.

"As part of Microsoft's ongoing security efforts, we constantly look for
ways to use a diverse set of tools and develop methodologies to protect our
customers," said George Stathakopoulos, general manager of the Trustworthy
Computing Group at Microsoft. "By combining our expertise with that of the
broader community we can expand the boundaries of defense to better protect
people worldwide."

As cyberthreats have rapidly evolved, a greater level of industry
coordination and new tactics for communication and threat mitigation are
required. To optimize the multiple initiatives being employed across the
security industry and within academia, Microsoft helped unify these broad
efforts to implement a community-based defense to disrupt the spread of
Conficker.

Along with Microsoft, organizations involved in this collaborative effort
include ICANN, NeuStar, VeriSign, CNNIC, Afilias, Public Internet Registry,
Global Domains International Inc., M1D Global, AOL, Symantec, F-Secure, ISC,
researchers from Georgia Tech, the Shadowserver Foundation, Arbor Networks
and Support Intelligence.

"The best way to defeat potential botnets like Conficker/Downadup is by the
security and Domain Name System communities working together," said Greg
Rattray, chief Internet security advisor at ICANN. "ICANN represents a
community that's all about coordinating those kinds of efforts to keep the
Internet globally secure and stable."

"Microsoft's approach combines technology innovation and effective
cross-sector partnerships to help protect people from cybercriminals,"
Stathakopoulos said. "We hope these efforts help to contain the threat posed
by Conficker, as well as hold those who illegally launch malware
accountable."

More information about how to protect yourself from Conficker can be found
at http://www.microsoft.com/conficker. Customers interested in learning more
about staying safe online can visit http://www.microsoft.com/protect.

Microsoft's reward offer stems from the company's recognition that the
Conficker worm is a criminal attack. Microsoft wants to help the authorities
catch the criminals responsible for it. Residents of any country are
eligible for the reward, according to the laws of that country, because
Internet viruses affect the Internet community worldwide. Individuals with
information about the Conficker worm should contact their international law
enforcement agencies.

*About ICANN: *

ICANN is responsible for the global coordination of the Internet's system of
unique identifiers like domain names (like .org, .museum and country codes
like .uk) and the addresses used in a variety of Internet protocols that
help computers reach each other over the Internet. Careful management of
these resources is vital to the Internet's operation, so ICANN's global
stakeholders meet regularly to develop policies that ensure the Internet's
ongoing security and stability. ICANN is an internationally organized,
public benefit non-profit company. For more information please visit:
www.icann.org.

*Media Contacts: *

ICANN: press at icann.org

International: Andrew Robertson
Edelman (London)
Phone: +44 7921 588 770
Email: andrew.robertson at edelman.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://lists.afrinic.net/pipermail/africann/attachments/20090213/32de0b11/attachment-0001.htm