The Internet security community has been waiting since last summer for a widespread attack. Some industry watchers thought that the Microsoft outage on Friday was it; others think it is the Mimail e-mail worm that is reproducing virulently today. But neither seems to be the Internet disaster scenario many have been fearfully predicting. The Web sites of the technology giant were brought down for nearly two hours after being hit by a malicious denial-of-service (DoS) Internet attack. In and of itself, a DoS hack is not particularly dangerous. But given increased attention to the Internet's role in homeland security, a successful attack launched against the company that arguably should know the most about PC security is worrisome.

DoS attacks involve traffic-management features of a Web site, as opposed to particular kinds of servers or Internet protocol software. Given the current level of development in network equipment, Aberdeen Group vice president Jim Hurley told NewsFactor, there is very little a company can do to prevent such a security breach. Recovery is where companies should focus their attention.