Microsoft Files Hacker Lawsuit

Microsoft Corp., the world’s largest software maker, filed a lawsuit that claims unnamed users accessed its computer servers and “harvested” a list of Hotmail e-mail addresses to send spam.

Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft alleges users trespassed into Microsoft’s servers in Mountain View, Calif., in September and stole the Hotmail addresses to send unsolicited e-mails. The firm said it will amend its suit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in San Jose, to name the culprits once they are known.

“By using the Internet to harvest and send commercial e-mail messages, harvesters and spammers not only obtain significant cost savings, but also impose significant economic burdens on Microsoft,” the company said in court papers.

Microsoft shares rose $1.31 to $48.30 on Nasdaq.