Posted on 03/31/2009 4:59:22 PM PDT by papasmurf
The conficker worm, aka:Downup, Downadup and Kido, is scheduled to become active at 00:01:00 AM on 04/01/09.
It's a complete unknown and has many experts worried. If you aren't sure about being protected on your Windows machine, please download the FREE application from Microsoft called Windows SteadyState , and install it.
It only takes a few minutes, it's very easy and simple, and it will protect your hard drive. I use it on my XP Box and my Wife's Vista laptop, and I know it works.
Download it, click to install, open it, and select "User Restrictions", and (if you do nothing else), select "Protect the Hard Disk".
After that, anything and everything that is installed will be deleted after a reboot. it's just that simple.
Read the help and "How To" that pops up after installation to find out more.
As much fun as Shadow Ace's threads are, it would be a shame to have 100 or so FReepers needing help in recovering their hard drives tomorrow.
So, remember, No disk glove, no data love!
US-CERT.GOV
http://www.uscert.gov
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.uscert.gov/current/index.html#conficker_worm_information
Conficker Worm Targets Microsoft Windows Systems
added March 29, 2009 at 08:18 pm | updated March 30, 2009 at 03:06 pm
US-CERT is aware of public reports indicating a widespread infection of the Conficker/Downadup worm, which can infect a Microsoft Windows system from a thumb drive, a network share, or directly across a corporate network, if the network servers are not patched with the MS08-067 patch from Microsoft.
Home users can apply a simple test for the presence of a Conficker/Downadup infection on their home computers. The presence of a Conficker/Downadup infection may be detected if a user is unable to surf to their security solution website or if they are unable to connect to the websites, by downloading detection/removal tools available free from those sites:
http://www.symantec.com/norton/theme.jsp?themeid=conficker_worm&inid=us_ghp_link_conficker_worm
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/worms/conficker.mspx
http://www.mcafee.com
If a user is unable to reach any of these websites, it may indicate a Conficker/Downadup infection. The most recent variant of Conficker/Downadup interferes with queries for these sites, preventing a user from visiting them. If a Conficker/Downadup infection is suspected, the system or computer should be removed from the network or unplugged from the Internet - in the case for home users.
Instructions, support and more information on how to manually remove a Conficker/Downadup infection from a system have been published by major security vendors. Please see below for a few of those sites. Each of these vendors offers free tools that can verify the presence of a Conficker/Downadup infection and remove the worm:
Symantec:
http://www.symantec.com/business/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2009-011316-0247-99
Microsoft:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/962007
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/worms/conficker.mspx
Microsoft PC Safety hotline at 1-866-PCSAFETY, for assistance.
US-CERT encourages users to prevent a Conficker/Downadup infection by ensuring all systems have the MS08-067 patch (see http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS08-067.mspx), disabling AutoRun functionality (see http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-020A.html), and maintaining up-to-date anti-virus software.
Last minute tech ping for conficker warning.
So, this isn’t a April Fools joke?
Excellent, thanks, Cindy.
I’ll be monitoring this board and the overseas boards right after American idol in case anyone needs assistance or can supply us with updated info.
unfortunately, it isn’t
How is Sydney fairing Up its April 1 there I think
Absolutely not. Stay safe.
Hows corn flicker, you up and running?
Thanks.
What can I expect will happen ?
One word: iMac
ping for info......
There are several good apps out that will isolate your HD and save your bacon. It’s just that I know this works, and it’s free.
I’ve tried to defeat it, and it works as advertised every time.
I got this bugger on my work computer back in December. It was hell to get rid of, but I left that duty to the “capable” hands of the hospital’s IT department. They had to completely wipe my hard drive clean to eradicate it. If it had been my personal PC that got it, I’d be so screwed.
This only hit people who didn’t stay up to date on their patches - such people would not have stayed up to date on an iMac. But they could rest soundly at night knowing their money went to help nearly every ultra liberal cause in California.
ping
And you don’t think that Bill Gates and his people are liberals. LOL
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