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CNN Live At Daybreak

Code Red Worm Yet to Bite the Apple

Aired August 01, 2001 - 08:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: Where is the worm? The "Code Red" computer worm was expected to run amok on the Internet last night, but, so far at least, there have been no major problems. Computer security experts aren't sounding the all clear just yet though.

And CNN's Elaine Quijano has details on Code Red for us from Alexandria, Virginia.

Elaine, explain to us where you are and why you are there.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are at Riptech in Northern Virginia. And this is one of many Internet security firms that has closely been monitoring the Code Red worm. The analysts behind me right now -- some of these guys have been up now for, oh, probably more than a week or so trying to prepare for what could happen.

So far though, so good. It is very quiet here. They say that there has only been a minimum mount of activity related to the Code Red worm. That is certainly good news. But they also say it is early yet in this second round of this Code Red worm infestation. But again...

MCEDWARDS: Elaine...

QUIJANO: ... so far, so good.

MCEDWARDS: ... Elaine, explain why it's early. I mean, this thing has a way of moving and growing -- doesn't it? What happens?

QUIJANO: Right. Basically what this Code Red worm does it looks for these bugs in vulnerable Web server software operating systems basically. We are talking about Windows NT and 2000. Those systems have a bug in them that the worm will actually look for and attack. What it does -- it infects by replicating itself. And what that can do in the aggregate basically, normal computer users probably won't see much of an affect other than a general slow down of the Internet. But because this software is really for Web servers, computers that basically link other computers together -- your home PC for instance -- wouldn't be affected too much by this. But again, it has not been anymore than just a minimal amount of activity as it is.

MCEDWARDS: Well, Elaine, why are some systems more vulnerable than others? QUIJANO: Well, again, the Windows NT and 2000, they just have a bug in them -- a defect. In fact, Microsoft is offering a patch out there that they say will fix that bug and in a sense protect you -- your computer against the Code Red worm. Microsoft also says that about one million people have downloaded that patch so far.

MCEDWARDS: All right. CNN's Elaine Quijano, thanks very much.

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