WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Microsoft says parts of its Windows source code have shown up on the Internet in a potentially serious security breach.
The leaked portions are used in two versions of the Windows operating system, 2000 and NT, widely deployed in business networks.
Microsoft says the code, made public, could give hackers important intelligence about how to exploit flaws in software run by many of the world's computers.
Computer security experts agree the release of Windows source code could pose a threat to Internet security, depending on what portion of the code was leaked, the Washington Post reported.
Microsoft spokesman Tom Pilla said the company does not know how much of the code was compromised but believes it was not a complete version of either operating system. He said the FBI is investigating.
The software giant closely guards the Windows source code but does license portions of it to security researchers and more than 50 universities under its "Shared Source Initiative."
