Microsoft server accidentally may have spread virus

<br>SEATTLE (AP) _ Two Microsoft Corp. Web sites designed to help large business clients prevent computer bugs may accidentally have given some clients a virus, the software company confirmed Thursday.

Friday, April 27th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SEATTLE (AP) _ Two Microsoft Corp. Web sites designed to help large business clients prevent computer bugs may accidentally have given some clients a virus, the software company confirmed Thursday.

The company discovered late last week that the FunLove virus, known for attacking Windows NT servers, had accidentally made its way onto the company's Premier Support and Gold-Certified Partner Web sites. The subscription-only Web sites are geared toward companies that deal in business software and development, said Michele D'Amour, Microsoft marketing manager for enterprise and product support services.

As many as 26 companies may have downloaded a virus-infected file from the Web sites during the 24-hour period that the virus was on the sites, D'Amour said.

She said Microsoft notified the clients as soon as it discovered the problem. No one has reported a virus attack yet, she said.

Because these corporations generally update software including antivirus protection frequently, she said it was unlikely they would be infected, even if they had downloaded the virus.

D'Amour said the virus made its way onto the sites from somewhere within Microsoft, and was able to get in because the servers running the sites did not have up-to-date antivirus software.

The company does not know of any other internal sites or servers that were infected, she said.