Microsoft Corp customers who still haven't downloaded a patch to fix a security hole in Windows 2000 server software are vulnerable to a hacker program released yesterday, a computer-security company said.
A hacker going by the name of "Dark Spyrit" developed a program that allows outsiders to gain control of server computers running Windows 2000 with Internet Information Server 5.0, said Marc Maiffret, of software maker EEye Digital Security. Hackers could deface Web sites and manipulate servers, which are used to run networks and dish up Web pages.
Microsoft, the biggest software maker, said on Tuesday that Windows 2000 has a vulnerability that computer hackers can exploit.
The problem hurts Microsoft's image just as it's trying to win more customers for Windows 2000 and woo people to paid- subscription Internet services that it plans to offer, said Rob Enderle, an analyst at research firm Giga Information Group Inc.
"New customers might be concerned," Enderle said.
"Microsoft has made itself into one heck of a target. They're the gold medal in hacking contests." Enderle said this week is a bad time to have a security weakness exposed because a group of Chinese hackers has been defacing US Web sites in retaliation for last month's collision of a US spy plane and a Chinese jet.
Microsoft spokesman Jim Desler said the company took extra steps to make customers aware of the problem and urged them to quickly download the software patch.
The existence of the attack program should serve as a reminder to customers that they need to download the patch as soon as possible, he said. The company hasn't heard of any attacks, he said.
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