14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just announced the opening of a new Cybercrime Center that’s supposed to help the company continue its global efforts against malware and botnets.
The new facility is located in Microsoft’s campus in Redmond and is based on technology that can help the company tackle online crimes and block malware or botnets affecting all of us.
The Cybercrime Center includes technologies such as SitePrint, used to create a map of online organized crime networks, and PhotoDNA, which can help block child abuse content. At the same time, it also provides Microsoft’s staff with tools to detect online fraud and identity theft, the company says.
“The Microsoft Cybercrime Center is where our experts come together with customers and partners to focus on one thing: keeping people safe online,” said David Finn, associate general counsel of the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit. “By combining sophisticated tools and technology with the right skills and new perspectives, we can make the Internet safer for everyone.”
Redmond has also revealed that the new facility employs more staff, with nearly 100 attorneys, investigators, technical experts, and forensic analysts working together to ensure that all online threats are blocked as fast as possible.
“In the fight against cybercrime the public sector significantly benefits from private sector expertise, such as provided by Microsoft,” said Noboru Nakatani, executive director of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation.
“The security community needs to build on its coordinated responses to keep pace with today's cybercriminals. The Microsoft Cybercrime Center will be an important hub in accomplishing that task more effectively and proactively.”
Of course, Microsoft has used the occasion to praise its efforts a little bit, pointing to the 7 botnets it managed to take down in the last couple of years, including Citadel, Bamital, Nitol, Zeus, Kelihos, Rustock, and Waledac.
