'Worm' computer programme disrupts Twitter

San Francisco: A malicious computer programme that tormented Twitter over the weekend is another reminder of the challenges facing the rapidly growing online communications service.

The mischievous programme, known as a "worm," targeted Twitter's network with four different attacks starting early on Saturday and ending early on Monday, according to Twitter co-founder Biz Stone.

The worm was a potentially malicious programme designed to automatically reproduce itself once it's clicked on. But Stone says it didn't steal any personal information from the more than 6 million people with Twitter accounts.