Microsoft Takes Down Dozens of Zeus, Spy Eye Botnets
Summary: Microsoft announced it executed a court-approved takedown of dozens of ZeuS and SpyEye botnets, seizing servers in Scranton, Pennsylvania and Lombard, Illinois and taking control of 800 domains, with help from U.S. Marshals. The filing marked the first time Microsoft invoked the civil section of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act in a botnet case, according to Digital Crimes Unit senior attorney Richard Boscovich.
Why it matters: The banking Trojans behind these botnets have helped thieves steal more than $100 million from small to mid-sized businesses in the United States and abroad, and Microsoft's own prior takedowns, such as Kelihos, produced mixed results. Abuse.ch data also showed some seized domains belonged to legitimate businesses whose sites had been compromised, including an iPhone case seller in Italy, a Thai social networking forum, and a San Diego dance studio.
Read the original at Krebs on Security ↗
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