A computer virus spread by exploiting a previously reported security flaw in Microsoft Corp's Windows operating system is programmed to attack a Microsoft Web site on Saturday, computer-security companies said.
The "Blaster" or "Lovesan" worm spreads by attacking a security vulnerability in most versions of Windows for server computers and Windows XP for personal computers. The virus will attempt to shut down Microsoft's www.win-dowsupdate.com Web site on Saturday and continue until the end of the year, according to a Symantec Corp bulletin.
Vincent Gullotto, vice president of Network Associates' anti-virus emergency response team, said thousands of machines have been infected by the worm but so far the spread hasn't been severe enough to slow traffic on the Internet.
"It's still spreading but it's not close to the intensity level it could have been or anywhere near Code Red or Nimda," he said, referred to two worms that spread in 2001.
Gullotto said the spread was curtailed by preparations computer users made to protect their machines after multiple warnings over the past month from Microsoft, anti-virus software makers and the US government.
Microsoft isn't taking any "special action" to combat the worm, spokesman Sean Sundwall said. It has been urging customers to download a software patch to fix the flaw for the past month.
Microsoft customers have said they are frustrated by attacks using security failings in the software such as Code Red and the Slammer worm that slowed traffic on the Internet in January. The company issues several software patches a month to fix flaws and customers said keeping up with them costs time and money.
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