After Windows XP interim build 2469 arrived Friday, more than just testers were able to experience the beta. A leaked login to the tester-only Windows Beta Web site quickly surfaced, and spread like wild fire throughout IRC and over instant messenger. Sources confirmed the breached account was active for approximately seven hours, resulting in mass unauthorized downloads of private beta releases. The bandwidth strain is said to have crippled Redmond, forcing Microsoft to shut down the beta site and other services.

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