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Tricky Windows Worm Hits 3 Million Computers
Have you updated your Windows machine lately? If not, as always, you certainly should! Word is coming from a number of virus and malicious software experts that a certain piece of nasty software with a number of names has gone on to infect three million Windows machines around the world, with the most infected being in places like China, Brazil, Russia, and India.
The software is known as Conficker, Downadup, or Kido, but by any name, it's a worm, which is software that infiltrates machines and then spreads itself from there. This one is particularly shady and deceptive, renaming itself with every install and also connecting to random online servers, making it very difficult to detect. Once on your machine, it has the power to do whatever it likes, including steal your passwords and private information.
| Yes | |
|---|---|
| No | |
| I'm not sure. |
Thankfully Microsoft has released a patch ensuring your machine will be safe, and most virus manufacturers can detect it. So, make with the updating already! [From: BBC News]
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Comments
55
Subscribe to commentssueJan 19th 2009 2:11PM
stole my bank account and kept changing my firewall
nancyJan 19th 2009 3:15PM
Sue where do I download the fix?
BobbyJan 19th 2009 2:40PM
I don't keep my personal information on my computer. If it isn't there, no one can steal it. Plain, simple... try it sometime. So many people voluntarily put their information where others can potentially get to it. STOP PUTTING YOUR INFORMATION WHERE OTHERS ARE TEMPTED TO GET IT!
GabbyJan 19th 2009 8:03PM
Though that is the foolproof way of beating these things, there is one more step you can take.
Use Ubuntu.
---Most intruders enter through Windows. Be safe. Use Linux.---
GeoffJan 22nd 2009 12:03AM
Let's see where your argument takes us.
If you have a PC/Windows machine, don't use it for personal things. And, don't use it for company proprietary information. And, don't put anyone else's personal information on it.
Thus, the only thing that should be on a PC/Windows machine is solitaire because it's as useless as the PC, itself.
DocJan 19th 2009 2:47PM
Simple solution: switch to a MAC.
dc7338Jan 19th 2009 6:36PM
Couldn't agree with you more! I have had Macs for 8 years, including an Intel- NEVER had any virus!
You Windows users- SWITCH!
ComputerProcessorApr 1st 2009 2:49PM
Mac's are safe from the Conficker and other 32 to 64-bit viruses, but Just switching won't be neccessary if you have the right anti-viruses. Like SpyBot Search & Destroy is one of the best free anti-virus there is. If you want a good pair of anti-viruses, get NOD32. If your computer is 32-bit, this is perfect for you. These two anti-viruses are perfect for each other because NOD32 scans, blocks attacks, and deletes, and SpyBot scans, protects, and fixes registry errors. So don't use a lot of money by just switching to Mac, just update your computer regularly and keep your anti-virus up-to-date.
WolfJan 19th 2009 3:11PM
The people that create these things should be paraded through town and locked in a stockade, allowing anyone affected to throw rotten fruit and veggies at them. Ok, I know, kind of middle ages, but it would be fun.
shaunisadirtyJan 19th 2009 3:14PM
Even better solution, keep your computer updated. Microsoft is on top of these things these days. I work in technical support, supporting both Macs and PCs and I can tell you first hand the only two reasons people have problems are because they either a: don't keep their computer up to date or b: do a lot of, mostly illegal, things on the internet where they would get attacked and infected - and even more so because their computer isn't up to date. Trust me, macs are easy out of the box but when you have a problem, which you will they are comptuers - not saints, they are even more difficult to diagnose and fix than pcs.
MuleJan 19th 2009 3:15PM
Doc it's not such a simple solution. Unless your really familar with a MAC, it aint goan be easy. Then there is the price of a Mac, until they really start to drop on price why bother? Rather do like Bobby says, Don't put your personal info on the computer, that's a much simpler solution. CHANGE YOUR PW OFTEN!
Nuff said, find a low life that likes to make virus's? Break him or her into little pieces. If you get popped, tell em you was insane at the time.
FriedaJan 19th 2009 3:41PM
I too would like to know where to download the fix. I've looked and looked and am unable to find it anywhere on the Microsoft website. Also, I have automatic Windows updates -- will the patch come along with that automatically?
Tim StevensJan 19th 2009 3:42PM
Yes, all you need to do is run Windows Update (go to http://www.windowsupdate.com in Internet Explorer) and you'll get the necessary fix.
mikeJan 19th 2009 9:23PM
The update was distributed Oct 1 2008. If you go to the windows update site, just do a search on the " Conficker Security update " and it will show you the KB958644 update that was either auto installed then or will be if you let Microsoft scan your computer to check for it. This is old information that is on the AOL news page.
billylocoJan 19th 2009 4:13PM
MAC IS EXPENSIVE?? not as much as when the ass88888..a real expense 2 b sure.ino!
KIERSTEN WOODSJan 19th 2009 4:03PM
REMOVED PICTURES OUT OF MY PUTER!! STOLE MY BANK ACCOUNT INFO---THEN ON TOP OF THAT---DID STUFF ON AOL---ASKING OVER 5000 CUSTOMERS FOR THEIR PERSONAL INFO!! I GOT TERMINATED FROM AOL!! FOR 1 YR!! AND AOL WOULD NOT BELIEVE ME THAT I NEVER DID ANYTHING!! --BEYOND THIS----I WAS NOTIFIED BY MY BANKING UPDATE PREVENTATIVE STUFF--WHICH ALERTED ME! IF I DID NOT HAVE THAT---COULD YOU IMAGINE? TO THIS DAY I WONDER ABOUT IT....
somebodys sunshineJan 19th 2009 7:07PM
Thank you for that info...I wonder if thats the problem I've been having with my AOL software lately. Did you have a problem with AOL shutting down before you were aware of it.
mikeJan 19th 2009 7:00PM
TO ALL the people that say switch to mac... PLEASE the only reason that MAC has less problems with these things is most people have pc's as soon as the majority goes to MAC guess WHAT.. MAC will be having the same problems.. Hackers and such wont bother with mac untill then. its not worth there time. keeping your anti virus/spyware updated is the only way to be safe besides not downloading stuff that you dont know is safe.
GabbyJan 20th 2009 5:23AM
Yeah, you keep thinking that...
GeoffJan 21st 2009 11:49PM
Mike, interesting rationale. You would forgo doing something that has substantial benefit today because, possibly, in the future, the benefit may diminish. Your argument is as old as the Mac, itself - 24 years. And, to date, the Mac is rock solid. At that rate, one should expect another 24 years of superior performance from the Mac. Better yet, just stay with your PC/Windows and spend lots of time downloading the latest patches to you antivirus software and then cleaning everything up when an unexpected virus sneaks through. I guess you don't have much else to do with your abundant free time. Me, I like to be producing within 5 seconds of flipping up the screen on my MacBook each and every time.