Symantec Provides Security Expertise in Collaborative Industry Effort to Stop Spread of Downadup

Since its discovery by Symantec in November 2008, the malicious W32.Downadup worm has infected millions of systems worldwide. In an effort to reduce the continued propagation of the worm and mitigate the risks associated with such a large network of infected systems, Symantec is collaborating with a range of global technology industry leaders and academics.  Participants in the partnership include:   Microsoft, ICANN, Neustar (.biz), Verisign (.com, .net and .cc), CNNIC (.cn), Afilias (.info), Public Internet Registry (.org), Global Domains International, Inc. (.ws), AOL, F-Secure, M1D Global, Microsoft Active Protections Program partners, ISC, researchers from Georgia Tech, The Shadowserver Foundation, Arbor Networks and Support Intelligence. By sharing resources and expertise, this collaborative cross-industry effort is not only protecting infected systems from further damage, but also providing security to the Internet community on the whole. The millions of systems infected by W32.Downadup pose a risk to Internet users as well as to the infrastructure of the Internet.