Buchanan began to receive hundreds of requests a day from global law enforcement organisations wanting to track down dubious files. But not all inquiries are welcome. Eight months ago Buchanan stopped accepting requests, except from a core clientele. The company is also one of only two able to recover passwords almost without fail, often a key element in bringing criminals to court - and of use to companies hit by malicious former staff who change passwords on leaving. Actis is now directing its efforts to keeping the map up to date, and assessing the threat of the new.
Investors now realise the value of such a map is enormous.
Whatever happens to Actis, the completion of the map is probably the first big step in the quest to control internet anarchy.