Microsoft to Fight Crime With Spammer's Millions

daria42 writes "It looks as if the $7 million Microsoft won from spam king Scott Richter won't go into a Swiss bank account and never be seen again after all. The company plans to dedicate a cool $5 mil to helping law enforcement agencies address computer-related crimes. Another $1 million will go to New York State to "expand computer-related skills training for youths and adults", with the rest being flagged to pay Microsoft's legal costs."

Hmm...

[Darren Winsper]

Does this mean we're going to see Bill Gates in a bizarre spandex outfit combating spammers around the world? I smell a Ben Affleck film!

Re:Dupe of the week

[Anonymous Coward]

I guarantee this is not a dupe. I would certainly remember seeing MS doing something good :-)

$1 mil for lawyer?

[cloudmaster]

This appeared to be a straightforward case, but somehow I can still see the lawyer, holding his pinkie to his mouth and saying "Sure, I can help you prosecute this spammer. For one million dollars!"

Re:Hmm...

[GreyPoopon]

I smell a Ben Affleck film!

No, that's my vomit that you smell. ;)

See!

[Anonymous Coward]

Spammers are good for community! Thanks to spammers, law enforcement and poor lawyers have been paid!

Re:Hmm...

[hcpxvi]

Surely, a benign thought compared to Steve Ballmer as Robin. Not to mention Linus as (duck now, you can hear it coming) the penguin.

Is the million dollars to New York

[DrugCheese]

by any chance in coupon form only redeemable for software from a certain software company?

Re:Hmm...

[rubberbando]

Yes! And he will be known as the Spammy Avenger with his trusty sidekick, the Great Grape Ape (Steve Balmer painted purple).

The Unfortunate Truth

[Chokai]

Is reflected in today's cartoon [nwsource.com] by David Horsey in the Seattle-PI.

We need to come up with something more agressive and effective. I for one am a fan of the much discussed idea DOS attacks against the spammers websites, despite the moral and ethical issues people have raised. A nice side effect is that it will somewhat discourage ISPs from hosting them also.

I'm confused...

[HogynCymraeg]

which is the american government?