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Code Red shuts down key computers

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Alex Loin TorontoandMartin Wong

The feared Code Red II computer worm has forced the shutdown since Monday of a key government Internet server that sends internal information to all departments and bureaus.

Officials admitted on Tuesday night that the server had been attacked and was shut down to stop the worm spreading.

Work was continuing last night to purge the system of the bug, which targets Web servers running on the Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 2000 operating systems. A spokesman with the Information Technology Services Department said technicians had no idea when the server could be used again.

He said public government Web sites were not affected by the bug.

Once inside, it opens a "backdoor" in the system, allowing intruders to delete files, steal data and deface Web pages. The Government said no data on the server had been lost.

The department spokesman said that at about 6.30pm on Monday a number of internal government networks experienced slow performance similar to when there was heavy traffic. It was found that the government intranet Web server was infected with the Code Red II worm.

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