The internal servers of Microsoft, which has long preached the importance of updating patches to their operating systems, were attacked by SQL Slammer, the worm that has congested Internet traffic and disrupted ATM terminals across the nation over the last week. rnrn
The irony is that if Microsoft had listened to its own advice, the worm could have been avoided - a patch Microsoft issued months ago fixed the vulnerability that SQL Slammer exploits. rnrn
A memo from Bill Gates, chairmen of Microsoft, sent out to customers last week stressed the importance of updating patches. rn rn
Microsoft spokesman Rick Miller confirmed that a number of the company's machines had gone unpatched, and that Microsoft Network services, like many others on the Internet, experienced a significant slowdown. rnrn
"We, like the rest of the industry, struggle to get 100 percent compliance with our patch management," he said. rnrn
SQL Slammer exploits known vulnerabilities in Microsoft SQL 2000 servers. It has little impact on home or desktop PCs, and it does not infect Linux, Mac, or Unix systems. rnrn
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