

Impact of," said Michael Cherry, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft, an independent research firm.

"It's now starting to move from being a problem that they used to hear anecdotally to a problem they can now measure the To exploit a flaw in Windows operating systems - it also hurt Microsoft's ability to book new contracts with corporateįor the first time, it seemed, flaws in Microsoft's software were translating into flaws in the company's business model. When the Blaster worm hobbled hundreds of thousands of computers around the world in August - only the latest plague

The campaign reveals just how much of a threat to Microsoft's bottom line security flaws now represent. More than just an escalation of the war on those who would exploit the dominant power in software. SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp.'s offer this week of cash bounties for informants who help it collar virus-writers reflects
