Microsoft says its Internet Information Server (IIS) is as secure as comparable products from other vendors. This follows a Gartner recommendation that enterprises hit by both the "Nimda" and "Code Red" worms look at alternatives. According to the advisory from Gartner . . .
Microsoft says its Internet Information Server (IIS) is as secure as comparable products from other vendors. This follows a Gartner recommendation that enterprises hit by both the "Nimda" and "Code Red" worms look at alternatives. According to the advisory from Gartner -- which is based in Stamford, Connecticut -- the success of the Nimda worm and of Code Red before that "highlights the risk of using IIS and the effort involved in keeping up with Microsoft's frequent security patches."

Gartner's advisory was issued in the aftermath of last week's attack by the mass-mailing Nimda worm that infected systems running Microsoft Windows 95, 98, Me, NT and 2000. (See the link below: "Nimda worm hard to fight, but patches are available.") Unlike other worms and viruses, Nimda spread via network-based e-mail, as well as through contaminated Web browsers and exploited back doors left behind by previous malicious codes as Code Red and Sadmind.