Microsoft to Pay Reward to Sasser Worm Informants

Following the conviction of Sven Jaschen for writing and releasing the Sasser worm, Microsoft is living up to it's promise of offering rewards for information leading to specific malware convictions.

Microsoft Corp. today announced that two individuals who helped identify the creator of the notorious Sasser worm in 2004 will share a reward of $250,000 (U.S.). The author of the worm, arrested in May 2004, was found guilty Friday by a court in Verden, Germany, and handed a sentence of one year and nine months on probation and 30 hours of community service.

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“We’re pleased that the author of the Sasser worm has admitted responsibility for the damage he caused and is being held accountable,” said Nancy Anderson, vice president and deputy general counsel at Microsoft. “It has been important and gratifying to collaborate with and support law enforcement in this case, and we’re glad to provide a monetary reward to those individuals who provided credible information that helped the German police authorities solve this case.”

The reward will be paid from Microsoft’s anti-virus reward program, an initiative established by the company with Interpol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service in November 2003 to provide an incentive for people to help identify those responsible for unleashing malicious viruses and worms on the Internet and deter cyber-criminals. The reward is paid to informants who are not involved in the criminal activity and provide credible information to law enforcement agencies that leads to an arrest and conviction.

Source: Microsoft to Pay Reward to Sasser Worm Informants, Microsoft Press Release, July 8, 2005.