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“WASHINGTON—Senior military leaders took the exceptional step of briefing President George W. Bush last week on a severe and widespread electronic attack on Defense Department computers that may have originated in Russia, posing unusual concern among commanders and potential implications for national security.

Defense officials would not describe the extent of damage inflicted on military networks. But they said the attack struck hard at networks within U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, and affected computers in combat zones. The attack also penetrated at least one highly protected classified network.

Military computers are regularly beset by hackers, viruses and worms. But Defense Department officials said the most recent attack involves an intrusive piece of malicious software, or "malware," apparently designed specifically to target military networks.

Although officials are withholding many details, the attack underscores the increasing danger and potential significance of computer warfare, which defense experts say could be used by combatants to undermine even a militarily superior adversary.

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