By the time U.S. Marshals, in the company of Microsoft Corp. attorneys, busted into the data centers of dozens of U.S. hosting firms to shut down the Rustock botnet in March, 2011, it was the main source of global spam. The takedown was notable for the success Microsoft had in using the courts to move against the hosters without prior warning that would allow the botnet operator to shift operations off the threatened infrastructure. A wide range of companies and law enforcement agencies took part including anti-botnet firm FireEye, the Dutch High Tech Crime Unit, the University of Washington, CN-CERT in China and pharmaceutical giant Pfizer – part of a successful model of botnet prosecution that Microsoft has pioneered.
SEE ALSO Microsoft, FireEye Take Down Notorious Rustock Botnet
