Microsoft shuts down global spammers

1.5 billion spam messages stopped

Fed up of the endless spam and junk mail that fills your inbox every morning? Well, it's Microsoft to the rescue as the software giant wins a court approval to shut down a global network of computers which it says is responsible for more than 1.5 billion spam messages every day. That is a lot of emails telling me I need to enlarge my manhood...

A US judge approved the firm's request and has granted Microsoft shut down 277 internet domains, which were part of the Waledec botnet network that were able to allow hackers to control infected computers. By shutting down these domains, Microsoft said that up to 90,000 PCs would now stop receiving orders that would make them send out spam.

Down but not out

Microsoft recently released a report saying that 3-21 December 2009, "approximately 651 million spam e-mails attributable to Waledac were directed to Hotmail accounts alone". This has made it one of the 10 largest botnet systems in the US.

Despite shutting down the network, Microsoft have stressed that thousands of computers are still infected with malware and as shut advised the use of anti-virus software.

Operation b49

Working in unison with intelligence organisation Shadowserver, the University of Washington and security firm Symantec, Microsoft's 'Operation b49' was the name of the court order that the software giant took to the Virginian court in order to get Verisign, the company that manages the .com domain, to switch off the offending domains.

The operation, which took months of investigation has been described as a legal first. In a statement, Microsoft said, "This action has quickly and effectively cut off traffic to Waledac at the .com or domain registry level, severing the connection between the command and control centres of the botnet and most of its thousands of zombie computers around the world."

So rejoice online users! The attempts of evil Zombie computers to fill your in-boxes with letters from Nigerian diplomats and Cheaper Meds has been severely curtained! Huzzah!

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Timon Singh

Timon Singh is a graduate of Liverpool University where he received a degree in Social and Economic History. He has previously worked for BBC Magazines on BBC Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, the publication for the popular genealogy show.

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