http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2696131.stm
Experts are warning that a malicious computer code which disrupted the
internet may resume its attacks on Monday.
In South Korea, which was badly affected by the attack, systems engineers
are racing to repair internet networks amid fears Monday would bring new
outbreaks as businesses switch on their computers for the new working week.
The South Korean Information Minister, Lee Sang-Chul, said he believed the
problem was hiding, rather than fully resolved.
Computer experts said the code, known as a worm, had affected nearly a
quarter of a million computers worldwide on Saturday.
The attack, which targets internet servers and does not infect home
computers, slowed systems for several hours, affecting web browsing and
e-mail delivery.
The attack was detected by the FBI shortly after it was launched on
Saturday, limiting the damage.
Asian slowdown
Computer experts said the effect was similar to that of the "Code Red"
virus, which brought internet traffic to a halt in the summer of 2001.
At least five of the internet's 13 major hubs were targeted in Saturday's
attack.
Internet surfing in Asia was particularly slow.
In South Korea, the world's most wired country where almost three-quarters
of the population have internet access, services shut down nationwide for
hours on Saturday.
Users and news media also reported outages or slowdowns in Thailand, Japan,
Malaysia, the Philippines and India.
In the US, Bank of America customers were unable to withdraw money from the
company's 13,000 ATM machines, while the attack also disabled some
trans-Atlantic internet and phone service.
Not a virus
The worm known as SQL ("sequel") Slammer targeted a known weakness in
Microsoft's software to shut down powerful server computers around the world
and can knock websites off-line.
Unlike viruses, the worm exists only in memory, so it cannot be detected by
traditional anti-virus scanners.
The Microsoft website has a fix for the vulnerability, which companies can
download.
"Companies need to take applying patches against new security threats
seriously," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at the
anti-virus company Sophos.
"If you don't, then stopping new worms and viruses is as easy as catching
smoke in a butterfly net."
xponent
Be Wary Maru
rob
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