Virus warning: SQL worm trumps Nimda and Code Red

An internet worm that attacks Microsoft's SQL Server database has caused more attacks in the past week than last year's most notorious worms, Nimda and Code Red.

Security experts first warned of the problem last week. Since then the worm, also known as Spida, has attacked thousands of machines running Microsoft SQL Server.

The worm attacks port 1433, with more attacks on this port reported over the past week than port 80, which was the focus of athe Nimda and Code Red attacks.

Internet security firm Dshield said port 1433 had received 56 per cent of computer attacks in the last five days compared with 11 per cent of attacks on port 80.

However, it also warned that this could be down to the cyclical nature of Code Red and Nimda which are currently in a dormant stage.