Germany pays to clean malware from Windows PCs

URL: http://feeds.arstechnica.com/~r/arstechnica/index/~3/nyjpfamNb7I/microsoft-welcomes-germany-ridding-citizen-pcs-of-malware.ars

The German government is planning to establish a malware cleanup helpline for its citizens. Announced last week at the fourth German IT summit in Stuttgart, the project is due to start in 2010. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will team up with the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) as well as eco (Association of the German Internet Industry) to clean consumer systems from botnet infestation. ISPs will track down infected machines by looking for communication with botnet controllers, and then direct users towards a website offering advice on how to remove it. If suggestions on the website don't get the job done (or the site is blocked by the malware), users will be directed to a call center. No funding details were provided (the exact sum contributed by the German government is not being disclosed), though about 40 employees will be taking phone calls and trying to fix problems.