-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- software giant microsoft is offering a $ 250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of hackers behind a powerful computer virus that could lead to millions of pcs being hijacked . experts say a single infected laptop could expose an entire network to the worm . experts have so far been baffled by the true purpose of the conficker or downadup virus , but have described its spread as one of the most serious infections ever seen . the worm exploits a bug in microsoft windows to infect mainly corporate networks , then -- although it has yet to cause any harm -- it opens a link back to its point of origin , meaning it can receive further orders to wreak havoc . microsoft has issued a patch to fix the bug , however if a single machine is infected in a large network , it will spread unchecked -- often reinfecting machines that have been disinfected . the threat from the virus prompted microsoft in collaboration with other technology industry names to this week announce a $ 250,000 reward for information to track down those behind conficker . `` as part of microsoft 's ongoing security efforts , we constantly look for ways to use a diverse set of tools and develop methodologies to protect our customers , '' said george stathakopoulos , of microsoft 's trustworthy computing group . mikko hypponen , chief research officer at anti-virus firm f-secure says the true scope of the virus is not known , but in the past 24 hours his company monitored conficker signals from two million internet protocol addresses . `` that 's a lot , '' he told cnn . `` and one ip address here does not mean one infected computer , it means at least one infected computer . `` many of those ip addresses are obviously company proxies or firewalls , hiding hundreds of more infections behind it . unfortunately this also makes it impossible to estimate the total count of infected systems . dundee united have hit back at fierce criticism of the board 's performance by two leading supporters ' groups . arabtrust and the federation of dundee united supporters clubs say they are ` shocked ' that 25 per cent of # 6.3 million worth of transfer fees for ryan gauld , andrew robertson , stuart armstrong and gary mackay-steven were paid in commission to unnamed parties . the supporters groups also disputed chairman stephen thompson 's alleged level of investment in the club . the dundee united board have hit back at criticism from supporters by pointing to their on-field success . the tannadice club - already under fire for selling armstrong and mackay-steven to celtic six weeks before their league cup final defeat to the scottish champions - responded by defending their record in a statement . it read : ` all supporters can be assured that the board will continue to implement its professional and comprehensive strategy for the football club . `` so it 's still big . very big . '' microsoft has previously paid out similar rewards to informants who helped identify the creator of sasser , another notorious worm let loose in 2004 . the perpetrator was tracked to germany , where he was sentenced a year later . ` this strategy and the related actions of the chairman and board of directors have delivered progress both on and off field . ` on the field the club has reached back-to-back domestic cup finals for the first time in 29 years , qualified for european competition in three of the last four years , finished in the premiership top six in every one of the last seven years and won the scottish cup in 2010 . ` the current management team and players are also sitting fourth in the premiership this season with sights firmly set on securing a european qualification place . ' the supporters ' joint statement expressed concern over the levels of club debts , saying : ` despite the sales of the four players the board of dufc does not believe that this is yet sufficient to pay all current remaining debt . ' defending their record on that point , the club statement responded : ` off field the board has reduced overall debt , including thompson family loans , from # 5.2 m in february 2014 to # 2.6 m while successfully extricating the club from all bank debt . the club debt is projected to be reduced to # 1.4 m by the end of this year . ` supporters can rest assured that the board is comprised of individuals that are , without exception , dundee united supporters . they bring with them a wealth of experience in business . ` at all times , the board acts to promote the success of dundee united and will continue to do so . ' arabtrust and the federation also voiced concerns that chairman thompson was wary of bringing in external investors for fear of seeing his family 's shareholding drop below 75 per cent . the most explosive allegation , however , is the claim concerning the commission paid to outside parties -- none of whom are understood to be players , agents or other clubs . the supporters ' joint statement added : ` we believe this figure to be in excess of # 500k . this does not include payments to players , agents or other clubs . when all of these various payments are totalled , over 25 per cent of the # 6.3 m in fees received has not been kept in the club . ' united last year announced that a recent debt settlement would see the bank of scotland collect a share of transfer fees received before the end of august 2015 . a united spokesman said : ` we 've been reluctantly drawn into this matter and have no wish to enter a war of words , but the # 500,000 figure is an entirely fictitious amount based on an incorrect assumption . at no time was that figure provided to anyone , so it 's surprising to see it in the public domain . ' some supporters were angered by the amount of commission that was paid from transfer fees received .
dundee united have faced criticism from fans over the 25 per cent commission paid out from # 6.3 m worth of transfer fees received . however , the club have responded by pointing to their record on the pitch . dundee have reached back to back domestic cup finals for the first time in 29 years and secured european football three times in the last four seasons .
is not known , but in the past 24 hours his company monitored conficker signals from two million internet protocol addresses . `` that 's a lot , '' he told cnn . `` and one ip address here does not mean one infected computer , it means at least one infected computer . `` many of those ip addresses are obviously company proxies or firewalls , hiding hundreds of more infections behind it . unfortunately this also makes it impossible to estimate the total count of infected systems . dundee united have hit back at fierce criticism of the board 's performance by two leading supporters ' groups . arabtrust and the federation of dundee united supporters clubs say they are ` shocked ' that 25 per cent of # 6.3 million worth of transfer fees for ryan gauld , andrew robertson , stuart armstrong and gary mackay-steven were paid in commission to unnamed parties . the supporters groups also disputed chairman stephen thompson 's alleged level of investment in the club . the dundee united board have hit back at criticism from supporters by pointing to their on-field success . the tannadice club - already under fire for selling armstrong and mackay-steven to celtic six weeks before their league cup final defeat to the scottish champions - responded by defending their record in a statement . it read : ` all supporters can be assured that the board will continue to implement its professional and comprehensive strategy for the football club . `` so it 's still big . very big . '' microsoft has previously paid out similar rewards to informants who helped identify the creator of sasser , another notorious worm let loose in 2004 . the perpetrator was tracked to germany , where he was sentenced a year later . ` this strategy and the related actions of the chairman and board of directors have delivered progress both on and off field . ` on the field the club has reached back-to-back domestic cup finals for the first time in 29 years , qualified for european competition in three of the last four years , finished in the premiership top six in every one of the last seven years and won the scottish cup in 2010 . ` the current management team and players are also sitting fourth in the premiership this season with sights firmly set on securing a european qualification place . ' the supporters ' joint statement expressed concern over the levels of club debts , saying : ` despite the sales of the four players the board of dufc does not believe that this is yet sufficient to pay all current remaining debt . ' defending their record on that point , the club statement responded : ` off field the board has reduced overall debt , including thompson family loans , from # 5.2 m in february 2014 to # 2.6 m while successfully extricating the club from all bank debt . the club debt is projected to be reduced to # 1.4 m by the end of this year . ` supporters can rest assured that the board is comprised of individuals that are , without exception , dundee united supporters . they bring with them a wealth of experience in business . ` at all times , the board acts to promote the success of dundee united and will continue to do so . ' arabtrust and the federation also voiced concerns that chairman thompson was wary of bringing in external investors for fear of seeing his family 's shareholding drop below 75 per cent . the most explosive allegation , however , is the claim concerning the commission paid to outside parties -- none of whom are understood to be players , agents or other clubs . the supporters ' joint statement added : ` we believe this figure to be in excess of # 500k . this does not include payments to players , agents or other clubs . when all of these various payments are totalled , over 25 per cent of the # 6.3 m in fees received has not been kept in the club . ' united last year announced that a recent debt settlement would see the bank of scotland collect a share of transfer fees received before the end of august 2015 . a united spokesman said : ` we 've been reluctantly drawn into this matter and have no wish to enter a war of words , but the # 500,000 figure is an entirely fictitious amount based on an incorrect assumption . at no time was that figure provided to anyone , so it 's surprising to see it in the public domain . ' some supporters were angered by the amount of commission that was paid from transfer fees received .
wreak havoc . microsoft has issued a patch to fix the bug , however if a single machine is infected in a large network , it will spread unchecked -- often reinfecting machines that have been disinfected . the threat from the virus prompted microsoft in collaboration with other technology industry names to this week announce a $ 250,000 reward for information to track down those behind conficker . `` as part of microsoft 's ongoing security efforts , we constantly look for ways to use a diverse set of tools and develop methodologies to protect our customers , '' said george stathakopoulos , of microsoft 's trustworthy computing group . mikko hypponen , chief research officer at anti-virus firm f-secure says the true scope of the virus is not known , but in the past 24 hours his company monitored conficker signals from two million internet protocol addresses . `` that 's a lot , '' he told cnn . `` and one ip address here does not mean one infected computer , it means at least one infected computer . `` many of those ip addresses are obviously company proxies or firewalls , hiding hundreds of more infections behind it . unfortunately this also makes it impossible to estimate the total count of infected systems . dundee united have hit back at fierce criticism of the board 's performance by two leading supporters ' groups . arabtrust and the federation of dundee united supporters clubs say they are ` shocked ' that 25 per cent of # 6.3 million worth of transfer fees for ryan gauld , andrew robertson , stuart armstrong and gary mackay-steven were paid in commission to unnamed parties . the supporters groups also disputed chairman stephen thompson 's alleged level of investment in the club . the dundee united board have hit back at criticism from supporters by pointing to their on-field success . the tannadice club - already under fire for selling armstrong and mackay-steven to celtic six weeks before their league cup final defeat to the scottish champions - responded by defending their record in a statement . it read : ` all supporters can be assured that the board will continue to implement its professional and comprehensive strategy for the football club . `` so it 's still big . very big . '' microsoft has previously paid out similar rewards to informants who helped identify the creator of sasser , another notorious worm let loose in 2004 . the perpetrator was tracked to germany , where he was sentenced a year later . ` this strategy and the related actions of the chairman and board of directors have delivered progress both on and off field . ` on the field the club has reached back-to-back domestic cup finals for the first time in 29 years , qualified for european competition in three of the last four years , finished in the premiership top six in every one of the last seven years and won the scottish cup in 2010 . ` the current management team and players are also sitting fourth in the premiership this season with sights firmly set on securing a european qualification place . ' the supporters ' joint statement expressed concern over the levels of club debts , saying : ` despite the sales of the four players the board of dufc does not believe that this is yet sufficient to pay all current remaining debt . ' defending their record on that point , the club statement responded : ` off field the board has reduced overall debt , including thompson family loans , from # 5.2 m in february 2014 to # 2.6 m while successfully extricating the club from all bank debt . the club debt is projected to be reduced to # 1.4 m by the end of this year . ` supporters can rest assured that the board is comprised of individuals that are , without exception , dundee united supporters . they bring with them a wealth of experience in business . ` at all times , the board acts to promote the success of dundee united and will continue to do so . ' arabtrust and the federation also voiced concerns that chairman thompson was wary of bringing in external investors for fear of seeing his family 's shareholding drop below 75 per cent . the most explosive allegation , however , is the claim concerning the commission paid to outside parties -- none of whom are understood to be players , agents or other clubs . the supporters ' joint statement added : ` we believe this figure to be in excess of # 500k . this does not include payments to players , agents or other clubs . when all of these various payments are totalled , over 25 per cent of the # 6.3 m in fees received has not been kept in the club . ' united last year announced that a recent debt settlement would see the bank of scotland collect a share of transfer fees received before the end of august 2015 . a united spokesman said : ` we 've been reluctantly drawn into this matter and have no wish to enter a war of words , but the # 500,000 figure is an entirely fictitious amount based on an incorrect assumption . at no time was that figure provided to anyone , so it 's surprising to see it in the public domain . ' some supporters were angered by the amount of commission that was paid from transfer fees received .
-lrb- cnn -- software giant microsoft offering hackers behind a powerful computer virus millions pcs hijacked. experts say a single infected laptop expose the worm. experts have so baffled the true purpose the conficker or downadup virus, have described its spread one ever. the worm exploits a bug microsoft windows infect mainly corporate networks, then -- although has yet cause opens a link back its point meaning receive further orders to wreak. microsoft has issued, however if a single machine infected in a large network, spread unchecked -- often reinfecting disinfected. the threat from the virus prompted microsoft in collaboration other technology industry names this week a $ 250,000 reward to track those behind conficker. `` as part microsoft 's ongoing security efforts, we constantly look use a diverse set develop methodologies, '' george stathakopoulos of microsoft 's trustworthy computing group mikko hypponen, chief research officer f-secure says the true scope, in his company monitored conficker signals two million internet protocol addresses. `` that 's, '' told cnn `` and one ip address here does one infected computer,. `` many those ip addresses obviously company proxies firewalls, hiding hundreds more infections behind it. unfortunately this also makes estimate the total count infected systems. dundee united have hit fierce criticism the board 's performance by two leading supporters ' groups. arabtrust and the federation dundee united supporters clubs say ` shocked ' 25 per # 6.3 worth transfer fees for ryan gauld, andrew robertson stuart armstrong gary mackay-steven were commission to unnamed parties. the supporters groups also disputed chairman stephen thompson 's alleged level investment. the dundee united board have hit criticism supporters by pointing on. the tannadice club - already under fire selling armstrong and mackay-steven celtic six weeks their league cup the scottish champions responded defending their record a statement. it read : ` all supporters can assured the board implement its professional and comprehensive strategy the football club. `` so it 's still big. very big. '' microsoft previously paid similar rewards informants helped identify the creator sasser, another notorious worm let 2004. the perpetrator was tracked germany, sentenced a. ` this strategy and the related actions the chairman board have delivered progress both field. ` on the field the club reached for 29 years, qualified european competition three finished the premiership top every one the scottish cup 2010 ` the current management team and players also sitting fourth this with sights firmly securing a european qualification place. ' the supporters ' joint statement expressed the levels club debts, saying : ` despite the sales the four players the board of dufc does this yet all current remaining debt. ' defending their record on that point, the club statement responded : ` off field the board reduced overall debt, including thompson family loans from # 5.2 m in february while successfully extricating all bank debt the club debt projected reduced # 1.4 m by. ` supporters can rest the board comprised individuals that, without exception dundee united supporters they bring with a wealth experience business. ` at all times, the board acts to promote the success dundee united and will. ' arabtrust and the federation also voiced chairman thompson wary bringing external investors fear seeing his family 's shareholding drop below 75. the most explosive allegation, however concerning the commission paid outside parties -- none understood players, agents other clubs the supporters ' joint statement added : ` we believe this figure to in excess # 500k. this does payments players, agents other clubs. when all these various payments totalled, over 25 per # 6.3 m in fees received has not kept the club. ' united last year announced a recent debt settlement see of scotland collect a share transfer fees received before august. a united spokesman said : ` we ' reluctantly drawn this matter no wish enter a war, the # 500,000 figure an entirely fictitious amount based an incorrect assumption. at no time was that figure provided anyone, so 's surprising. ' some supporters were angered the amount commission that from transfer fees received.
is not known , but in the past 24 hours his company monitored conficker signals from two million internet protocol addresses . `` that 's a lot , '' he told cnn . `` and one ip address here does not mean one infected computer , it means at least one infected computer . `` many of those ip addresses are obviously company proxies or firewalls , hiding hundreds of more infections behind it . unfortunately this also makes it impossible to estimate the total count of infected systems . dundee united have hit back at fierce criticism of the board 's performance by two leading supporters ' groups . arabtrust and the federation of dundee united supporters clubs say they are ` shocked ' that 25 per cent of # 6.3 million worth of transfer fees for ryan gauld , andrew robertson , stuart armstrong and gary mackay-steven were paid in commission to unnamed parties . the supporters groups also disputed chairman stephen thompson 's alleged level of investment in the club . the dundee united board have hit back at criticism from supporters by pointing to their on-field success . the tannadice club - already under fire for selling armstrong and mackay-steven to celtic six weeks before their league cup final defeat to the scottish champions - responded by defending their record in a statement . it read : ` all supporters can be assured that the board will continue to implement its professional and comprehensive strategy for the football club . `` so it 's still big . very big . '' microsoft has previously paid out similar rewards to informants who helped identify the creator of sasser , another notorious worm let loose in 2004 . the perpetrator was tracked to germany , where he was sentenced a year later . ` this strategy and the related actions of the chairman and board of directors have delivered progress both on and off field . ` on the field the club has reached back-to-back domestic cup finals for the first time in 29 years , qualified for european competition in three of the last four years , finished in the premiership top six in every one of the last seven years and won the scottish cup in 2010 . ` the current management team and players are also sitting fourth in the premiership this season with sights firmly set on securing a european qualification place . ' the supporters ' joint statement expressed concern over the levels of club debts , saying : ` despite the sales of the four players the board of dufc does not believe that this is yet sufficient to pay all current remaining debt . ' defending their record on that point , the club statement responded : ` off field the board has reduced overall debt , including thompson family loans , from # 5.2 m in february 2014 to # 2.6 m while successfully extricating the club from all bank debt . the club debt is projected to be reduced to # on an incorrect assumption . at no time was that figure provided to anyone , so it 's surprising to see it in the public domain . ' some supporters were angered by the amount of commission that was paid from transfer fees received .
 The text appears to be discussing a sports team, specifically Dundee United Football Club. It mentions that the club has been criticized for its performance and financial management. There are allegations of corruption and mismanagement within the club, with some players being paid large sums of money while others have not received their wages. The article also mentions that the club's board of directors has been accused of taking large sums of money from transfer fees without investing it back into the club. Additionally, there is mention of a scandal involving a player who was allegedly involved in match-fixing. Overall, the tone of the article suggests that the club is facing significant challenges and controversies.