Microsoft Super Cyber Crime Lab Lands in Melbourne

December 4, 2007: Microsoft has announced the establishment of a cyber crime laboratory to be located in Melbourne, the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

The facility will become one of only three such facilities outside the USA which are designed to combat newly discovered online threats such as viruses and malware. The move has been welcomed by the Victorian Government who are hailing it as a win for Melbourne.

“In terms of cyber security, Australia is recognised as one of the top eight countries globally and one of the top three countries in Asia Pacific.” Said Theo Theophanous, Victorian Information and Communication Technology Minister.

Theophanous explains that The Microsoft Malware Protection Centre Lab (MMPCL) is aiming to boost the company’s ability to respond to threats at all hours of the day. The laboratory is also expected to boost skills development and involvement with local universities and be a boon for jobs creation at the high end of ICT within Victoria.

“As a company committed to providing privacy and security solutions for our customers, we continue to evolve our products and practices, and this lab will form part of our global approach to monitor malware and malicious attacks around the clock,” said Scott Charney, Corporate Vice President of Trustworthy Computing, Microsoft.

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