BRUSSELS – Microsoft will launch more than 100 legal actions around the world to fight online fraud, the company announced today during a technology debate in Brussels.
The technology giant is going after cybercriminals who are behind phishing attacks and by the end of June will have initiated legal action in more than 100 cases in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa against people suspected of committing online fraud by creating phony Web sites to lure people into sharing their personal data, such as e-mail and passwords, credit card numbers, or bank account information.
"Phishing is a crime. It undermines consumers’ trust in the Internet and is an impediment to European policy-makers’ and industries’ efforts to boost citizens’ use of innovative and valuable Internet services," said Neil Holloway, president of Microsoft Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Microsoft is working with Interpol to, among other things, train police in the latest technology, including developing servers and networks based on Microsoft products.
Microsoft has already led the takedown of 4,744 phishing sites worldwide, and in the U.S. last spring it filed 117 phishing lawsuits.
