For computer security experts, 2003 started with the Slammer Internet worm and went downhill from there. The year, which included four major worm and virus outbreaks just in August, has been labeled the "year of the worm" and "the worst year ever" by more than one computer security expert.
All that activity meant good news for antivirus software companies, such as Symantec. It was bad news for organizations of all kinds, which expended precious resources disinfecting everything from desktop workstations, to airline reservation systems and automated teller machine (ATM) networks that were hobbled by virus outbreaks.
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