Monday, March 26, 2012

Microsoft Targets Zeus Botnets

Redmond-based Microsoft reported today that it has run a major operation against the operator of the Zeus botnet, in an effort with the financial services industry, including Financial Services – Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC) and NACHA – The Electronic Payments Association, and Kyrus Tech Inc. According to Microsoft, it successfully executed a "coordinated global action" against the Zeus malware, which allows criminals to monitor a victim's online activity and uses keylogging to steal financial login information from users. Microsoft said it has detected more than 13 million suspected infections of Zeus worldwide since 2007, with about 3 million computers in the United States infected by the malware software. Microsoft said it was allowed to seize the command control servers running a number of Zeus botnets, via a pleading from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Microsoft said the move is expected to "significantly impact" cybercriminals, although it admitted the move will not permanently shut down the impacted Zeus botnets.