September 9, 2010 at 12:01Microsoft takes control of a large botnet
According to a Virginia state court ruling, Microsoft was given control over 276 domains that previously formed the core of a botnet known as Waledac .
Waledac is a botnet that used computers infected with a special trojan to send spam. The botnet peaked in 2009, when the network sent up to 1.5 billion spam messages daily. Microsoft notes that Hotmail recorded up to 650 million spam mailings.
After gaining control of the botnet and its neutralization, Microsoft was able to record the circulation of infected computers. So for 7 days, 58,000 computers tried to access the botnet, which made more than 14.6 million connection attempts to neutralized domains.
Microsoft works with providers who can inform their customers about an infection. So the provider of Cox Communications contacted hundreds of its customers to report that their computers were infected. To remove the trojan from the system and prevent infection, it is enough to install the free Microsoft Security Essentials antivirus .
Details of the destruction of the botnet can be found in this article on the Microsoft website.
After gaining control of the botnet and its neutralization, Microsoft was able to record the circulation of infected computers. So for 7 days, 58,000 computers tried to access the botnet, which made more than 14.6 million connection attempts to neutralized domains.
Microsoft works with providers who can inform their customers about an infection. So the provider of Cox Communications contacted hundreds of its customers to report that their computers were infected. To remove the trojan from the system and prevent infection, it is enough to install the free Microsoft Security Essentials antivirus .
Details of the destruction of the botnet can be found in this article on the Microsoft website.