A fast-moving computer “super worm” that has infected over three million computers is set to morph into a more aggressive form on April Fools’ Day, experts have warned.
The Conficker worm, which has spread across the internet at great speed, can be triggered to steal data or give control of infected computers to hackers.
But up to now, the worm’s authors have had their ability to control infected machines heavily limited by a coalition of web security firms.
The firms have been able to work with domain name registrars, which administer web site addresses, to block attempts from infected machines to get instructions from the worm’s authors.
But those efforts are set to get much harder. On April 1, many Conficker-infected machines will generate a list of 50,000 new domains a day that they could try.
Microsoft has placed a bounty of $250,000 (£170,000) on those responsible for creating the worm.
A coalition of online security firms have joined their offensive against the worm, including Symantec, F-Secure, VeriSign, Afilias, Internet Systems Consortium (ISC), and the Shadowserver Foundation.
Having lost a two year old dell laptop, which cost me nearly £700 to a virus, I’ll be extra aware of emails and other programmes that I open. We have internet security, do you? Do you think it works efficiently or are some security packages not worth what we pay for them?
Your views please?
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I hope you didn’t bin your Dell because of a virus. You can, at last resort, completely erase a hard drive and rid yourself of any virus. So long as you have the means to re-install windows, it’s an easy way to fix the issue.
Viruses annoy me, but I keep my AV up to date and I don’t panic if something comes along. They are a total pain if you get stuck with one though.
Edit. Hmm. It must have messed up the bios. I would have tried re-flashing the bios. That was quite extreme.
Conficker is the biggest impact or worm in 2009.
If you have done your windows update, then you can disable the autorun feature. With updates in anti-virus, computers should be saved.
Nevertheless, it is a good time to test all kinds of solution.
Perhaps, people should switch to Mac or Ubuntu. This can reduce your pressure during this financial crisis.
If you are infected then you cannot get onto MICROSOFT UPDATE web site, and if you type into your browser conficker virus then it tells you all about it……HANG ON A SECOND …. CON….ficker virus, and april 1st…. is this telling us something? CON….. and april 1st…..????????? Oh and did you know that Ficker is a actual person in the USA, and if you type in ficker into your browser it tells you all about him…?
The worm is real. Make sure all your security is up to date. In the link below, click on the word “patch” which will take you to the microsoft web site where there is a patch against this threat. If you regularly update Windows or have updates set to automatic you should already of downloaded the patch. (Issued October last year.)http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/con…
I have Mac and as far as I know most virus programmes are written for PCs.
I rely on BT Yahoo providing me with security and the inbuilt Mac firewall.
Then I cross my fingers, but like Filya I never open e-mails from senders I don’t recognise.
I am glad to know about this though, so that I can be extra vigilant.
Thanks.
I have the full Norton System, and I believe that I have the updates as mentioned in Across answer, though I didn’t think about LimeWire though.
However, can you imagine the volume of Questions that could arrive with obviously dodgy links, as if there weren’t enough already. Please, never click on them!
I’ve never had worms but my dog did once…..
But seriously they should look at Apple mac, more than likely envious staff with the knowledge to create such beasts…
I never open emails from anyone i don’t know and i’m sure that’s kept me safe…
Is this the same worm that was going to crash every computer on 1st Jan 2000?????????????????
Remember what they said, planes falling from the skies, no household heating, no street lights
And what happened
NOTHING
Don’t switch on your computer if it is not necessary on April 1st.
No, if you keep a backup of your files nothing else can happen, maybe buy a new computer or just re install your OS.
No, I have protection.
I use Avira and it is perfect.
I have Norton 360 published by Symantec also..this anti-virus protection is updated automatically so I will not fear this April Fools Day virus…but I will not rely just on Symantec or my auto backups..I will change auto backup schedule to manual and back up all of my files like what you lost, the day before April Fools…just for peace of mind…never trust a rumor but do trust what your heart feels is the right thing to do..bless you if you just sneezed lol
Btw I lost all of me shite too a couple months ago, due to a virus that I picked up somewhere and was not detected by Symantec..(*after Norton 360 subscription ends I am changing to NOD32 anti-virus protections)…anyway I lost all of my stuff cause I never backed up my files before…lesson learned lol…not funny…where is the nun when you need her eh lofl
I have little sympathy for people that get hit with these things. If people didn’t open stupid emails, it wouldn’t happen. I dont even run antivirus on my computers. Never have. Dont even own any antivirus software. You know what? I have NEVER BEEN INFECTED WITH A VIRUS OF ANY KIND. Ya know why? Because I dont go rampaging around the internet clicking on every sinlge thing that blinks or moves. I dont open stupid emails. I dont do the whole” gee, I dont know what that email is. I better open it, because it might be something important.” Stupid. Virus prey on the stupid web surfer, and those 3 million computers hit with this worm are obviously being used by stupid people with zero common sense.
Its better to be cautious than regret it later.
I had Norton anti virus for years, and then changed back to Avg free edition, without any adverse effects,
I am moving and intend to get Norton internet security when back in uk ( if I bought it here it would be in German ),
I do not think that half of the anti virus software is as good as its build up to be, and there’s a bit of me that suspects some of the firms may be releasing the viruses themselves to enhance sales,
how cynical of me eh.
I was reading this article earlier, and it seems to offer good advice. This is an extract, but the article is not that long:
“The final step is to confirm that your system’s anti-virus software is up to date and is performing automatic updates. “Unfortunately, if a consumer has not been utilizing anti-virus software or keeping up to date, they are at increased risk for Conficker,” according to Feit. “If a user has been exposed due to lapses in anti-virus or Windows Security, unfortunately the only recommendation seems to be to perform the updates, back up your important files and hope for the best.” http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/laptop-…