Rival hacker groups spreading worm using Windows flaw

AFP, August, 2005

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Rival hacker groups were spreading variants of a new computer worm exploiting a flaw in the Windows 2000 operating system, with networks of several media organizations already hit, experts said.

"Separate groups of hackers are releasing a barrage of worms in a battle to seize control of innocent users' computers," the security firm Sophos said, noting that networks at CNN, ABC Television, The New York Times and the Financial Times had been hit.

"There appears to be three different virus writing gangs turning out new worms at an alarming rate -- as if they would be competing who would build the biggest network of infected machines," added Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer at the security firm F-Secure.

Microsoft said earlier in the...