Massive Depreciation in Number of Waledac Infected Systems in Q2 - 2010

Recently, Microsoft released its biannual Security Intelligence Report on 13th October 2010. According to the report, the software giant cleaned up 29,816 computers infected with Waledac during the second quarter of 2010, a decrease from 83,580 in Q1-2010.

Commenting on the firm's success Adrienne Hall, General Manager at Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing Group stated that, the decline in the number of infected computers proved the success of the legal action that Microsoft took earlier in 2010, as reported by PCWorld on 14th Oct. 2010.

Security experts highlighted that Waledac was employed to send spam e-mails and infect systems with bogus antivirus software. It used a complex peer-to-peer system to correspond with other malware infected systems, as reported by 'PC ADVISOR' on 14th Oct. 2010.

Microsoft's legal actions against Waledac were unprecedented. The company was given an atypical ex parte temporary restraining order (TRO) to close down malicious domain names that Waledac's operators used to be in touch with the infected systems.

Security experts highlighted that an ex parte TRO permits for an action to be stopped without notice to the bad actor and even without a court hearing. In Waledac's case, it indicated that if the domain names were unexpectedly closed down, the botnet's controllers wouldn't have enough time to register new domains for their bots to request for getting new guidelines.

Elaborating the legal procedure and actions against Waledac master minds' Microsoft stated that the lawyers worked hard upon the legal aspects, whereas technical experts targeted Waledac. Furthermore, Microsoft organized a group of computer security researchers who penetrated Waledac's peer-to-peer control system.

As per the Microsoft's report, though Waledac was removed, it still exists. The botnet grabbed the 23 rank, of the 25 most-detected botnet families that showed up even after stringent legal measures and technically sound attempts, as reported by 'PCWorld' on 14th Oct. 2010.

Further Microsoft stated that now it would further appeal courts for the shutdown of botnet after it witnessed a remarkable decline in the number of systems infected with Waledac botnet, as reported by 'NETWORKWORLD' on 14th Oct. 2010.

Related article: McAfee Alerts Windows about Accessibility Hole in Vista

» SPAMfighter News - 10/26/2010