Microsoft wins legal battle against spammers

Computer giant Microsoft has emerged triumphant in its battle against a major source of internet spam.

A US court ruled that Microsoft can shut down the Waledac botnet, a network of hacker-controlled computers.

The firm say this botnet can send out up to 1.5 billion unwanted emails a day.

But is the court ruling a victory for all internet users?

Hugh Thompson is a New York-based internet security expert and ProgramCommittee Chair of the RSA Conference, the world's biggest gathering of security professionals.

First broadcast 26 February 2010