Hackers have reportedly gained access to Microsoft's computer
systems by using a worm called W32/Qaz.
According to reports in the Wall Street Journal confidential
commercial information may have been stolen from Microsoft and sent
to an email address in St. Petersburg, Russia.
A Microsoft spokesman said "This is a deplorable act of
industrial espionage and we will work to protect our intellectual
property."
Microsoft says they have asked the FBI to investigate, and that
their systems are now secure.
W32/Qaz, which was first seen in August 2000, allows hackers to
take control of remote computers. Sophos Anti-Virus users who have
kept their protection up-to-date are protected against this
worm.
"Companies should take this incident as a warning that anyone
can be affected by a virus or Trojan horse," said Graham Cluley,
senior technology consultant for Sophos Anti-Virus. "The way to
reduce the risk is not only to use up-to-date anti-virus software,
but also to educate staff to practice safe computing to reduce the chances
of infection."
Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com.