For days now, online news has been dominated by the Conficker C Worm Virus threat which is supposed and feared to strike today, April 1 as an April Fools Day disaster gift. The news spread like wildfire, especially after it was covered by international broadcasting agencies like CNN, and caused panick to the online community too wary of malicious viruses cracking down systems and breaking down computers.
In the Philippines, I.T. department of some companies were rumored to be shutting down their systems on the dreaded attack schedule where the virus is set to change programming. The virus, also known as Downup, Downadup and Kido has already infected about 3 millionto 12 millioncomputers running Microsoft Corporation’s operating system. An info that sent shiver to my spine since I’m a Microsoft OS fanatic.
The said virus was set to steal money from people by getting personal information like credit and bank account numbers and passwords. As to how the virus would do this, I don’t have any idea since it sounded ridiculous but nevertheless, the guys behind this dreaded virus were undeniably smart.
For months now, the Conficker worm has been causing sleepless night for computer technician and I.T. people who maintain computer system of private and government agencies. There was even a news that the European media reported that French military even grounded some of its fighter planes after the Navy’s network was infected over the winter. (Source: Yahoo News)
The media hyped on this one and you can just imagine how freakingly panicky the public became. Losing personal information and having a malfunctioning system are indeed cause for big headaches. I myself had to reinstall my OS in the last two months and I hated starting all over again and again and again… Viruses are a total waste of time and money.
How to detect a Conficker infection?If you’re able to navigate the internet freely hopping from one website to another but suddenly, you can’t access sites by Microsoft or sites with major antivirus software vendors, Conficker is in your system. This virus does all these (thanks to conficker.com for these info):
- Extracts all of its files to the %System% directory with random DLL file names, which can wreak havoc on your computer.
- Deletes the user’s Restore Points.
- Registers a services called Netsvcs
- Creates scheduled tasks that execute all of the DLL files.
- Creates it’s own simple HTTP server on the infected computer and spreads the worm to other computers in the network through file shares.
- Creates an Autorun.inf file in file shares to execute the warm files once the share is accessed by another computer.
- Connects to external sites to download additional files.
Experts say that removing Conficker is relatively simple. I hope you’d find it that way too if youre infected. Here are the steps courtesy of conficker.com:
- Visit http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=AD724AE0-E72D-4F54-9AB3-75B8EB148356&displaylang=en
- Follow a series of steps in order to update your computer, and remove the virus.
How badly this virus set today, April 1, can get? The programming of the lates version of Conficker commands infected machines to generate 50,000 new Internet addresses each day and “phone home” for instructions. Wow! That is alarming alright! Now Microsoft wanted badly to catch the bad guys behind the virus and is offering a gigantic amount of $250,000 for any information leading to these hackers.
For now, let’s stay tune to more news on this virus and to most of us not yet infected by Conficker, be safe and wary!
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You must a very smart person to be able to write so concisely. I’ll check back in a day or two to see what you else you have written about.