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Microsoft Sues Phishers Across the World

Software giant, Microsoft, takes responsibility over the internet and moves one step forward with its Global Phishing Enforcement Initiative that began in March. The company aims at stopping illegal online activities and at offering a safe environment for its users. Microsoft initiated 129 lawsuits against alleged "phishers" in Europe, the Middle East, and the United States in an attempt to stop certain individuals from using the internet for illegal purposes.

Microsoft is working closely with law enforcement agencies and trying to detect and stop people that use the internet for credit card frauds and all sorts of illegal activities that involve the internet. One of those lawsuits already transformed into a 2.5-year jail sentence in Turkey, and several out-of-court settlements with teenagers. The majority of lawsuits, 97 of them, are criminal procedures in which technology companies, and Microsoft among them, provided key information that will lead to indictment.

`Phishing` is when people use fake websites in order to lure users in giving out crucial information such as credit card numbers or their social security number. The information is them used illegally in many ways. Microsoft is leading a campaign for a safe internet and secure computing and plans to continue its struggle against `phishers`. The damage caused by phishing is estimated at about $2.8 billion during 2006 alone, and hopefully, with the help of technology companies, it will become easier to stop people from using such fraud techniques.