Microsoft's beta testing server has been intruded by hackers, who accessed unreleased software and downloaded an unspecified number of programs. The beta web site allows over 23,000 Windows users to test software in development.

Although Microsoft confirmed that confidential upcoming versions of Win-XP and .Net Server are available on the site, it said that no source code has been stolen.

Microsoft says the "problem has been fixed" and it has sent an e-mail to beta testers, informing them that their usernames and passwords have been changed as a precaution. It adds that intrusion only occurred on the server operating the Windows Beta web site, and that MS Passport was not compromised.

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