Microsoft hoping to have buried the worm
Software giant Microsoft was today anxiously waiting to discover whether steps taken to prevent a computer worm crashing one its most important websites were successful.
The worm, a type of virus, is programmed to use an estimated 300,000 infected computers worldwide to bombard the Windows Update site from the stroke of midnight in each country.
With the different times zones, it could mean the damage beginning at any time.
Microsoft, which describes the Blaster worm as one of the most serious viruses it has had to deal with, say they have “taken steps” to deal with the problem.
Windows users have been urged to download a special “patch” designed to disable the worm and prevent computers sending the potentially damaging data.
Officials at Microsoft are more worried about “silent” variants of the worm which may have infected computers without the owners’ knowledge.
Leading Internet security firm Symantec has been tracking the spread of the Blaster worm and estimates the number of systems hit since Monday is between 250,000 and 300,000.
Richard Archdeacon, Symantec’s director of technical services for northern Europe, said: “People ask the question, ‘why do hackers always target Microsoft?’ The answer is that the software is so commonly used.
“Microsoft provides us with a valuable tool but it means the target is bigger and that is what the hacker will exploit.”
Microsoft will begin to find out whether its measures are successful in the coming hours as Asia and Australia turn midnight.
But the real test will come with the US which has an estimated 48% of the infected computers.
The Blaster worm, which was first detected on Monday, looks on the Internet for computers without robust “firewall” protection.
The popularity of always-on broadband Internet access made its spread easier.
It contains a taunting message to the Microsoft’s chairman: “Billy Gates why do you make this possible? Stop making money and fix your software!!’
Home computers have been hit hardest because most business systems tend to have sophisticated barriers against viruses.
