Microsoft says it took over servers being used by China-based hacking group Nickel – The Verge

The Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) has seized 42 websites that the China-based hacking group Nickel used to attack organizations in the US, as well as around the world, according to a report on Microsoft's blog (via Bleeping Computer ). Microsoft says that the attacks were likely carried out to gather intelligence from government agencies, think tanks, and human rights groups. A US District Court in Virginia gave Microsoft permission to take control of the comprised websites on December 2nd, as outlined in the court document ( PDF ), allowing Microsoft to redirect traffic from those sites to Microsoft's servers….