By: Ang Biondo
A potentially volatile virus is ready to strike tomorrow on April 1st. It is the third variant of the conficker C. virus which has been set by its programmers with a hard date (a specific date) like its predecessors. This virus takes advantage of a hole in the Windows security system. Microsoft®, thinks it is serious enough to offer a $250,000 dollar reward.
A good test to see if your computer is infected is to see if you can log onto:
http://www.microsoft.com , http://www.symantec.com , or http://www.mcafee.com , if you can’t - there is a good chance your computer is infected.
Conficker C. is back in its third variation. Recently detected by Symantec in its third variant form and is also known as W32.Downadup.C. As I understand it previous versions were designed to disable the security system of the computer and propogate itself, then lay back and wait for the hard programmed date to activate and do its dirty work. This third variant “C” apparently acts more like a Trojan than a worm and is designed to be more aggressive and set to go off on April, 1st , 2009.
”Downadup, also called “Conficker,” has infected an estimated 6% of PCs worldwide . The worm spreads by exploiting a four-month-old vulnerability in Windows, by brute-force password attacks and by hitchhiking on USB devices like flash drives.” Read the full article at: networkworld.com/news.
This virus is well written by persons extremely well versed in network programming. Like its predecessors it is stealth and programmed with a hard date, in this case, April 1st. Surprisingly Microsoft is collaborating with the industry to catch the propagators of this virus by offering a $250,00.00 reward for the arrest and conviction of the originators. You can read more about this on the Microsoft Site or by clicking on Conficker. C REWARD.
You can also listen to a “PODCAST” of Keith Shaw from NetworkWorld.com talking with Mike Paquette from Top Layer Security about ways that IT and security pros can prepare their systems for the next Conficker variant or worm that comes looking to wreak havoc on their systems. (16:30)
Owners of computers infected with the Conficker. C are probably not aware of its presence. The anti-virus anti-malware industry as well as Microsoft ® are well aware of the situation and are ferverantly working for a solution prior to “D” day (April 1st). I strongly suggest you visit the website of the manufacture of your anti-virus product to read their notes on this potentially disastrous worm.
Precautionary measures you should definitely take to start with are:
· Download and run the Microsoft ® Malicious Software® removal tool. Microsoft® updates this tool every first Tuesday of the month. It is designed to use as a supplement to use with your anti-virus software. The tool runs in the background and prepares a report when done.
· Make sure you have the latest virus definitions update for your anti-virus software. I am running “Vipre” which updates automatically and I have seen it update several times in a day.
· If you listened to the Podcast (above), you would hav e heard Mike Paquette from Top Layer Security suggest you turn-off the “autorun” feature in Windows®.
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