The Conficker Cabal was the nickname given to an ad hoc partnership, led by Microsoft, to fight the Conficker virus.
Back in February Microsoft announced a partnership with various technology industry leaders and academia which was to implement a coordinated, global response to the Conficker worm.
Together with security researchers, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and operators within the Domain Name System, Microsoft coordinated a response designed to disable domains targeted by Conficker.
Shortly afterwards Microsoft also announced a $250,000 reward in return for information that would result in the arrest and conviction of those responsible for illegally launching the Conficker virus.
The organisations partnering with Microsoft in this cabal, which has since been renamed due to the negative connotations of that name, include the following -
- ICANN
- NeuStar
- VeriSign
- CNNIC
- Afilias
- Public Internet Registry
- Global Domains International Inc.
- M1D Global
- AOL
- Symantec
- F-Secure
- ISC
- Arbor Networks
Eight months on and there are still no arrests in connection to the Conficker menace.