The worm, known variously as "slammer", "sapphire" and "SQ-Hell", targeted vulnerabilities in the Microsoft database program SQL Server 2000. Unlike some viruses, it does not affect PCs, is not spread by email, and does not damage computers or delete files. Instead it overwhelms servers with requests for information.
In the US, both the Sunday print and web versions of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution were delayed by the attack. The Associated Press and the Philadelphia Inquirer also reported problems.
In the UK, many internet service providers ground to a halt, effectively reducing traffic to news sites even if their own host servers were unaffected.
Most of the servers affected did not have the latest security 'patches' installed, software packages designed to update the security features of computer programs.
By early this week, the patches were in place and the internet returned to its normal level of efficiency.
Sources:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46928-2003Jan26.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2697517.stm
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