Qwest rejects Code Red credit request

Qwest Communications has rejected a request by Washington state’s attorney general to give refunds to customers whose high-speed Internet connections were disrupted by the Code Red computer-worm attack, according to the Associated Press (AP).

The Code Red virus exploits vulnerabilities in some Microsoft operating systems.

Allegedly, customers experienced “intermittent” outages for about 10 days after the virus hit, and many had to wait up to two hours to speak with a Qwest service technician.

The Seattle Times reported that an e-mail from a Qwest executive to the attorney general’s office states, “The problem is not the modem, the problem is the virus. Qwest is not crediting for the virus.”

--Glenn Bischoff, senior writer