Microsoft Corp has posted a software fix to close a security hole in its Windows NT servers from a new method hackers are using to crash servers connected to the internet, although Microsoft still hasn’t got round to writing a patch for Windows 95 machines. The attack, called a ‘bonk’ by programmers and a ‘new tear’ by Microsoft, is a denial of service attack which sends phony internet protocol packets that crash the server. The ‘bonk’ is based on a previous attack called the ‘teardrop’, which affected all types of servers, while the new one only hits Windows 95 and NT servers. Speculation is rife that the internet community, upset by Microsoft’s ambitions for the internet, is looking to apply extra pressure alongside Microsoft’s antitrust investigation by the Department of Justice. The ‘bonk’ only affects servers connected to the internet.
