Microsoft disables spam email network

Rustock botnet sends out as many as 30 billion spam emails a day

Microsoft has taken credit for dismantling the notorious Rustock botnet spam email network, by filing legal action against its anonymous operators in the US.

Microsoft filed a suit based on the abuse of its trademarks in the bot's spam.

However, to be sure that the network was taken down, Microsoft obtained a court order that allowed it to work with US authorities to physically take the affected servers from hosting providers.

Servers were seized from five hosting providers in seven cities across the US, and Microsoft successfully severed the IP addresses that controlled the botnet, cutting off communication and disabling it.

"We are also now working with internet service providers and community emergency response teams around the world to reach out to help affected computer owners clean the Rustock malware off their computers," said Richard Boscovich, senior attorney at the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit.

"The central lesson we have learned from all our efforts to fight botnets has been that co-operation is the key to success."

As many as a million computers may be infected with Rustock malware, and it is capable of sending up to 30 billion spam emails a day.