SQL slammer worm facts for kids

The SQL Slammer worm was a very fast-spreading and damaging computer worm that appeared on the internet in early 2003. A computer worm is a type of harmful computer program that can copy itself and spread to other computers without anyone knowing. The SQL Slammer worm caused a lot of problems around the world.

What the SQL Slammer Worm Did

The SQL Slammer worm mostly attacked computers that were running special software called Microsoft SQL Server 2000 or Microsoft Desktop Engine 2000. These programs are like big organizers for computer data. The worm would find a weakness in this software and then sneak in.

How the Worm Caused Problems

Once inside, the worm would send out a huge amount of information very quickly. This flood of data would make websites and computers too busy to work properly. This is called a Denial-of-Service attack. It's like trying to talk to someone who is getting too many messages at once – they can't hear you!

The Story of the SQL Slammer

Back in June 2002, the company Microsoft released a special fix, called a patch, for the weakness that the SQL Slammer worm later used. This patch was like a shield to protect computers. However, many people and companies did not install this important fix.

When the Worm Attacked

In January 2003, the SQL Slammer worm was released. It spread incredibly fast. In just ten minutes, it had infected about 75,000 internet servers around the world. Servers are powerful computers that store websites and other online information.

Major Impacts of the Worm

One of the biggest companies affected was Bank of America. Many of their ATM machines, which people use to get cash, stopped working for a while. The problems got even worse. On January 25, 2003, the worm caused the entire internet to slow down globally. There were also reports that the worm interfered with emergency 911 calls and caused many flights to be canceled.

The Damage It Caused

During its time in 2003, the SQL Slammer worm caused a lot of damage. Experts believe it led to about 1 billion U.S. dollars in losses. This shows how much trouble a small computer program can cause if it spreads widely.

Related pages

• Conficker

See also

In Spanish: SQL Slammer para niños