Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), along with some agencies, has successfully disrupted more than a thousand botnets responsible for stealing people's online banking information and personal identities. Separately, Microsoft offered its Office programs for free on new Windows-based tablets.
Botnets are networks of compromised computers infected by malicious software to be controlled by cybercriminals known as botherders.
The software giant did this in a co-ordinated operation with the Financial Services - Information Sharing and Analysis Center, The Electronic Payments Association, the American Bankers Association - and other technology industry partners, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation or FBI.
The FBI took coordinated separate steps related to the operation.
This coordinated disruption was the result of an extensive investigation that Microsoft and its financial services and technology industry partners began early last year. They found that once a computer was infected with Citadel malware, that malware began monitoring and recording a victim's keystrokes.
This tactic, known as keylogging, provides cybercriminals information to gain direct access to a victim's bank account or any other online account. When victims are using their computers to access their bank or online accounts, cybercriminals can use the stolen information to pilfer those same accounts as well.
Microsoft also found that the Citadel malware was responsible for more than half a billion US dollars in losses among people and businesses worldwide. It has affected more than five million people, with the highest number of infections appearing in the U.S., Europe, Hong Kong, Singapore, India and Australia.
This cooperative action is part of a growing proactive effort by the public and private sector to fight cybercrime, help protect people and businesses from online fraud and identity theft, and enhance cloud security for everyone.
Microsoft and its partners do not expect to fully eliminate all botnets using Citadel due to the size and complexity of the threat. However, this action is expected to significantly disrupt the botnets' operation, making it riskier and more expensive for the cybercriminals to continue with their actions.
The company said in a separate statement that starting with the back-to-school lineup, and in some cases even earlier, Windows x86 tablets would come with Office. That is Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote in the box, said Tami Reller, who looks after the Windows business.
According to Reller, these new offerings are going to allow the firm's partners to build opening price point tablets, as well as great premium tablets. Additionally, the company has opened up support for small tablets with Windows 8, and plans to do more with Windows 8.1.
MSFT closed down 0.6 percent on Wednesday at $34.78.
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