Fears Blaster worm forerunner to others

By SCOTT MacLEOD

Microsoft NZ is worried the prolific worm Blaster is the forerunner to even nastier attacks on its Windows software.

Blaster has slipped into at least 300,000 computers worldwide through the internet, and is causing big problems in New Zealand.

By yesterday afternoon it had penetrated hundreds of computers at Tauranga District Council, struck homes and schools, and created what one computer expert described as "absolute bedlam".

The worm exploits a glitch in Windows software to slip onto personal computers, from where it will launch a global attack on a Microsoft website from tomorrow morning.

Blaster is meant to hurt only Microsoft, but side-effects can make computers shut down or run slower.

Microsoft NZ communications manager Carol Leishman said Blaster had relatively minor effects, but there were fears a nastier worm could wiggle into computers through the same glitch exploited by Blaster.

Ms Leishman urged users to download a "patch" from the Microsoft website to block attacks.

More than 4500 people have phoned Microsoft NZ about Blaster in the past two days.

At Tauranga District Council, Blaster reportedly affected up to 400 computers after slipping past a tough firewall system that is meant to block worms and infiltrating laptops.

Taradale PC Company shop owner Russ Olsen, who was trying to help more than 100 customers, said there was "absolute bedlam" and the worm was the most contagious he had seen in 22 years.

Technicians at anti-virus firm Sophos said Blaster's effects could be mistaken for the usual software glitches and many users would not realise their computers were infected.

Unlike most viruses, it did not rely on emails to spread and therefore evoked little suspicion.

FOR HELP Microsoft's NZ helpline is at 0800 800-004.