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Microsoft creates $5m virus-hunting fund

Margaret Kane CNET News

Published: 05 Nov 2003 16:05 GMT

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Microsoft will work with law enforcement to track down writers of worms, viruses and other malicious code, and is ponying up $5m (£2.98m) to fund the search.

As previously reported, the project will include $250,000 bounty for information leading to the arrest and conviction for the people responsible for releasing the MSBlast worm and Sobig virus, both of which wreaked havoc online over the summer.

Microsoft executives were joined by representatives from the FBI, the Secret Service and Interpol at a press conference on Wednesday that announced the new fund.

"These are not just Internet crimes, cybercrimes or virtual crimes. These are real crimes that disrupt the lives of real people," Brad Smith, general counsel at Microsoft, said in a press conference.

The rewards will be open to residents of any country, subject to that country's laws, Microsoft said. People with information can report it to law enforcement online to Interpol, to the Internet Fraud Complaint Centre or to the FBI, Secret Service or Interpol field offices.

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