Yesterday was supposed to be a dark day on the internet. People were standing in lines buying blank CDs and blowing up the phones of computer technicians all over Cleveland and the world. But just like the Y2K Bug (remember that?) it appears as though there was nothing really to worry about. Or was there?
Whether the cyber world is going to end or not, it isn't a bad idea to test your machine and make sure you are not infected with the Conficker Worm. If you are infected, it would be a good idea to remove it.
The Conflicker worm also know as the downandup worm gets into your system from a fraudulent Adobe Flash Player request. Typically people on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace get an email asking you to click them to see a video of you. I just got one this morning and the message was even more pathetic. It read, "From Mrs. Edith Mathew, Please open the attachment." Firstly, I do not know Mrs. Edith Mathew. I am sure she is a very nice lady but I would not open an attachment from anyone I do not know.
The interesting thing about getting infected on a social networking site is that the email will come from someone on your friends list. Therefore, people are more likely to click the link and download the update to see a video. Well if you do, you are infected. Then one of the things the worm does is jump into your address book and send the same email to everyone on your list. If only 1 out of 5 people clicks the link for the player update and all of their contacts gets an additional email; it would not be very long before infection resembles a shampoo commercial "and so on and so on..."
Now for the virtual penicillin. These three methods and links are free of charge and from trusted URLs (Microsoft, Symantec, and F Secure.)
How to remove Conficker Worm from Windows based systems
- Download and run the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool
- Download and run the Symantec W32.Downandup Removal Tool
- Download and run the removal tool from F-Secure
One of the above methods will remove the threat. But make sure that after the worm is removed you install the MS08-067 patch from the Microsoft update web site
Detailed information on removal and the patch installation can be found on the download pages of the products above mentioned.
Yesterday I received many calls from customers thinking they may be infected. I asked them the question of whether they go to social networking sites and whether or not they have seen those emails in their inboxes. So far, they have not. What about you? Do you go to social networking sites? Have you seen those emails? Did you click the link and install the Flash update to view the embarrassing video of you found on the web?
great look to your blog! The design has a subtle techie feel. Thanks for the timely virus threat advice. I used a public library terminal yesterday and had the system crash during a search. Keep us posted with more practical tech-info.
ReplyDeleteVery informative! Way to go, teambach!
ReplyDeleteI don't go to facebook or myspace sites, actually I know very little about them. However I too will not open attachments from sources I am not familiar with. It is so frustrating to have to worry about getting a virus.
ReplyDeleteThen there's the approach that says "don't use Windows"...
ReplyDeletethanks for the post - I didn't have a problem but it was timely
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info I am a Facebook user, but it appears I don't have the Conficker virus. I was one of those people backing up my files in hopes that nothing would happen. I heard some info saying that computers with the virus may not know it right away.
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