Mary-Louise Hoffman
Microsoft will collaborate with financial technology provider FIS, Europol and the Organization of American States to carry out cooperative efforts against potential cyber attacks.
The allies seek to assist law enforcement and private industry in dismantling online hacker groups and investigating botnets and malware threats, Microsoft said Wednesday.
Microsoft executives signed the three partnership agreements at the software maker’s Cybercrime Enforcement Summit.
“Cybercriminals are increasingly sophisticated in preying on consumers, including children and senior citizens,†said Brad Smith, executive vice president and general counsel at Microsoft.
 OAS is made up of 34 independent states in the Americas and develops preventive measures against computer security attacks, Microsoft says.
 The alliance between Microsoft and FIS aims to secure banking and payment transactions by using technology, according to the report.
Europol has supported anti-malware operations and worked with Microsoft to disrupt a massive botnet that infected 2 million computer systems.
