An automated search robot is prowling the Internet for pirated Microsoft software. The recently revealed "bot" is part of Microsoft's intensified campaign to slow piracy over the Internet. In operation since the Feb. 2000 launch of Windows 2000, the bot searches Web and FTP sites, newsgroups, chat rooms, auctions, and file-sharing sites (e.g., Napster and Gnutella sites) for postings that offer Microsoft products. Microsoft investigators follow up likely violations with requests to remove the offending material and will take legal action against uncooperative sites or repeat offenders. Microsoft credits the bot with bringing down as many as 7,500 sites and individual sales or auctions as of Aug. 1. Microsoft and the American Association of Publishers are now expanding the bot’s scope to pirated electronic books and encryption cracking software. Further information on Microsoft's anti-piracy campaign is available at www.microsoft.com/piracy. Cyveillance (www.cyveillance.com) offers a similar "intellectual property protection" Web search service commercially.