Confika Virus. Microsoft Cure.
- Thread starter Expat
- Start date
- 15,319
I haven't used a virus program or any kind of internet security in years and I've yet to have a probl
How do you know that you aren't THE problem?
There are a lot of low grade viruses that use your computer to send out junk traffic...all you see is a slower machine.
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If there's a boot strap involved...he has other problems.
Last edited:
On Wednesday, April 1, the latest variant of the Conficker (also known as Downadup and Kido) work will download new instructions. The sophistication of this worm and its botnet have many concerned, although the amount of legitimate concern is a matter of debate.
If you're concerned, then here are the 6 most important things to know about Conficker:
1. The overwhelming majority of systems infected with Conficker were infected through a vulnerability in the Windows RPC facilities. This vulnerability was patched in October. If you installed that patch before Conficker came out (late December '08) then you were protected and still are. If you haven't installed the update then it's essential that you do so. Windows Vista is technically vulnerable in this way, but the exploit is almost impossible to execute on it. Conficker is basically an XP problem.
2. Conficker can also spread through network shares, including those that have weak passwords; the worm executes a "dictionary attack" in which a list of common passwords (think "password", "asdf", etc) are used to gain access to the share. So if you find new executables on such drives they may be infected. Treat them as you would a program that got e-mailed to you unsolicited, and we hope that means you'll avoid it and report it to a network admin if you have one. A good anti-malware program will detect it at this stage.
3. It follows from this advice that you are also better off by using complex and unobvious passwords, especially those that use both numerals and letters and especially if they include punctuation.
4. Conficker can also spread by putting itself on removable drives like USB drives. When it does so it sets the Autorun on those drives to run itself. So if you insert such a drive you could, at the least, get a standard Windows Autoplay menu offering Conficker among its options. Sometimes it will disguise itself as the Windows option for opening Windows Explorer for the inserted drive. Once again, a good anti-malware program will detect it at this stage.
5. Anti-malware software isn't perfect but it has a very high rate of success. Conficker is about as high-profile as malware gets; all the companies have it and understand it well, and so if you have anti-virus software and keep it up to date it's hard for you to get attacked.
6. Conficker can interfere with the ability of Windows and anti-malware programs to update themselves. Ensure that they are doing so by checking the last update date/time of your anti-malware software and by checking Windows Update manually. Leave no critical updates uninstalled.
If you're concerned, then here are the 6 most important things to know about Conficker:
1. The overwhelming majority of systems infected with Conficker were infected through a vulnerability in the Windows RPC facilities. This vulnerability was patched in October. If you installed that patch before Conficker came out (late December '08) then you were protected and still are. If you haven't installed the update then it's essential that you do so. Windows Vista is technically vulnerable in this way, but the exploit is almost impossible to execute on it. Conficker is basically an XP problem.
2. Conficker can also spread through network shares, including those that have weak passwords; the worm executes a "dictionary attack" in which a list of common passwords (think "password", "asdf", etc) are used to gain access to the share. So if you find new executables on such drives they may be infected. Treat them as you would a program that got e-mailed to you unsolicited, and we hope that means you'll avoid it and report it to a network admin if you have one. A good anti-malware program will detect it at this stage.
3. It follows from this advice that you are also better off by using complex and unobvious passwords, especially those that use both numerals and letters and especially if they include punctuation.
4. Conficker can also spread by putting itself on removable drives like USB drives. When it does so it sets the Autorun on those drives to run itself. So if you insert such a drive you could, at the least, get a standard Windows Autoplay menu offering Conficker among its options. Sometimes it will disguise itself as the Windows option for opening Windows Explorer for the inserted drive. Once again, a good anti-malware program will detect it at this stage.
5. Anti-malware software isn't perfect but it has a very high rate of success. Conficker is about as high-profile as malware gets; all the companies have it and understand it well, and so if you have anti-virus software and keep it up to date it's hard for you to get attacked.
6. Conficker can interfere with the ability of Windows and anti-malware programs to update themselves. Ensure that they are doing so by checking the last update date/time of your anti-malware software and by checking Windows Update manually. Leave no critical updates uninstalled.
Well...I looks like nothing happened..yet.
Was it media/hype/frenzy?
A poorly written virus?
Or ...and this is what happened in 03...has it just not been noticed yet?
Best case scenario is that almost everyone updated their software and anti virus, and backed up files...which you should do anyway.
But, I'd keep an eye on bank,cc cards and other financial statements for a while...which you should do anyway.
Apparently, media has moved on saying to avoid pastachios ...they are the new spinach/peanut butter.
Was it media/hype/frenzy?
A poorly written virus?
Or ...and this is what happened in 03...has it just not been noticed yet?
Best case scenario is that almost everyone updated their software and anti virus, and backed up files...which you should do anyway.
But, I'd keep an eye on bank,cc cards and other financial statements for a while...which you should do anyway.
Apparently, media has moved on saying to avoid pastachios ...they are the new spinach/peanut butter.
- Staff
- #19
I hear a few message boards have been effected...redesigning the layout...things being flipped...
And my coffee machine made crappy coffee this morning....
Argghh! It's started! The sky is falling!
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