http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/interne...ack/index.html
This just came in from CNN. Might explain why Microsoft.com was down.
They urged all computer users to d/load a patch from Microsoft to prevent an impending hacker attack but no one can d/load it because Microsoft.com is down.
If this is a related 'pre-attack' to disable Microsoft so that people couldn't d/load the patch it's sinister with a capital S.