Microsoft ofrece recompensa por creador de virus

Microsoft offers reward for bug creator

Microsoft is offering a reward of $250,000 to help bring the creator of a nasty computer worm to justice. The computer code, known as Conficker or Downadup, has spread to millions of computers worldwide threatening to crash systems.

Maggie Shiels reports:

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Microsoft says people who write this malware have to be held accountable and know the company will not let this kind of activity go unchecked. George Stathakapulous, the general manager of its trustworthy computing group, says "our message is very clear - whoever wrote this caused significant pain to our customers and we are sending a message that we will do everything we can to help with your arrest".

Since the malicious program was discovered in October 2008, it's estimated that as many as 12 million computers have been affected globally. The Conficker worm is a self-replicating program that takes advantage of networks or computers that have not kept up to date with Windows security patches. It can infect machines from the internet or by hiding on USB memory sticks, carrying data from one computer to another. The worm slithers through networks by guessing usernames and passwords.

Security specialists recommend hardening passwords by mixing in numbers, punctuation marks and upper case letters..

Maggie Shiels, BBC News, Silicon Valley

 Listen to the words

malware
un virus (creado especialmente para dañar la computadora)

to be held accountable
(en este caso) rendir cuentas ante la justicia

will not let this kind of activity go unchecked
no dejarán que este tipo de actividades no sean controladas

caused significant pain to
causaron un daño significativo

malicious
dañino

self-replicating
(capaz de) reproducirse

takes advantage of
se aprovecha de/afecta

security patches
parches de seguridad

slithers through
Se cuela a través

hardening
hacer más difícil (de adivinar)

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