[LINK] Microsoft shuts down spam behemoth Rustock, reduces worldwide spam by 39%

[Tom Koltai]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: link-bounces at mailman.anu.edu.au 
> [mailto:link-bounces at mailman.anu.edu.au] On Behalf Of Kim Holburn
> Sent: Saturday, 19 March 2011 12:23 PM
> To: Link list
> Subject: [LINK] Microsoft shuts down spam behemoth 
> Rustock,reduces worldwide spam by 39%
> 
> 
> Has anyone noticed if spam has really gone down by that much?
> 
> Also I'm glad to see Pfizer actually taking some 
> responsibility in this.
> 
> http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/18/microsoft-and-fed
> s-shuts-down-spam-behemoth-rustock-reduces-worldwide-spam/
> 
> > Microsoft shuts down spam behemoth Rustock, reduces 
> worldwide spam by 
> > 39%
> > 
> > by Sebastian Anthony on March 18, 2011 at 07:05 AM
> > 
> > Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit, working with federal law 
> enforcement 
> > agents, has brought down the world's largest spam network, Rustock.

There's another version of this story that is unreported.

After gaining access to half of the worlds validated email adresses by
investment in various social network companies the Russian botnets
decided to legitamise their operations by creating several "Like" pages
on social networks.
Combined with several hundred "touts" tweeting spam twitters, the bit.ly
addresses are now affecting millions of online social network users
every day.

Persons that used to hire their spamn list services are much more
satisfied with the "as yet not considered spam" new services.

So please, tell us again how successful this botnet removal exercise has
been ? I need a good laugh.

TomK