SAN FRANCISCO - ON THURSDAY Microsoft announced it has formed a technology industry posse and put a bounty of $380,000 on the heads of those responsible for a vexing computer worm.

The nasty computer code known as 'Conficker' or 'Downadup' has been spreading quickly, wriggling into millions of computers worldwide and threatening to commandeer or crash systems.

Microsoft is working with computer security specialists and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to track down whoever unleashed Conficker.

'The best way to defeat potential botnets like Conficker/Downadup is by the security and domain name system communities working together,' said ICANN chief Internet security advisor Greg Rattray.

Microsoft promised to pay US$250,000 dollars for information that leads to the capture and conviction of the people that launched the malicious code on the Internet.

'We hope these efforts help to contain the threat posed by Conficker, as well as hold those who illegally launch malware accountable,' said George Stathakopoulos, general manager of Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing Group.

Cyber threats are evolving rapidly, compelling technology firms and academic researchers worldwide to increasingly collaborate to coordinate defenses.

The posse bent on corralling Conficker includes Symantec, F-Secure, VeriSign, Afilias, Internet Systems Consortium (ISC), and the Shadowserver Foundation.

Microsoft says it is aware of the Conficker 'worm family' and has modified its free Malicious Software Removal Tool to detect and get rid of infections.

Malware could be triggered to steal data or turn control of infected computers over to hackers amassing 'zombie' machines into 'botnet' armies.

A troubling aspect of Conficker is that it harnesses computing power of botnets to crack passwords. Security specialists recommend hardening passwords by mixing in numbers, punctuation marks, and upper case letters. -- AFP