July 31, 2001--
If you want to help stop a new computer invader, you'll want to move quickly.
The "Code Red" worm is set to spread again today at 6:00 p.m.
Officials say it threatens the very well being of the Internet.
Last week, the quick spreading "Code Red" internet worm disrupted government websites and nearly 300,000 computers.
Monday, in an unprecedented move-- representatives from the White House, FBI, Microsoft and others joined forces to issue a high-profile warning.
Ronald Dick/National Infrastructure Protection Center: "IN SUCH ATTACKS, THE VICTIM COMPUTERS ARE BEING USED WITHOUT THE OPERATORS KNOWLEDGE, TO FLOOD A WEBSITE AND OVERLOAD IT. WE ARE TAKING THIS WORM MOST SERIOUSLY DUE TO ITS ABILITY TO PROLIFERATE AT A DRAMATIC RATE."
The worm is similar to a computer virus, and can cause widespread slowdowns and outages, says Utah-based FBI Agent Kevin Fryslie.
Kevin Fryslie/FBI Agent: "WHAT IT DOES, IT WILL GET INTO A SYSTEM THROUGH THE INTERNET. IT'LL REPLICATE ITSELF AND WILL THEN GO OUT AND SEARCH FOR OTHER SYSTEMS AND ESSENTIALLY IT SLOWS DOWN YOUR ABILITY TO ACCESS THE INTERNET OR TO DO E-COMMERCE OR OTHER FUNCTIONS OVER THE INTERNET."
Vulerable to infection and requiring prevention measures?
Computers running the Windows N T or Windows 2000 Operating Systems and Microsoft's Internet Information Server version 4.0 and 5.0. ( Go to instructions to see if you're running Microsoft IIS 4.0 or 5.0.)
Windows '95, Windows '98, and Windows Millenium should be untouched, and no action is needed.
If you use the IIS 4.0 or 5.0 web server software, you should install a software patch to avoid getting attacked by this scary web worm. It's available on the Microsoft website.
Ronald Dick/National Infrastructure Protection Center: "IF USERS ACT QUICKLY, WE COULD MITIGATE MUCH OF THE POTENTIAL DAMAGE FROM THIS WORM."
