MSBlaster: Is the worst yet to come?

self

[Rodney King]

Here's a better question: What's the problem exactly? How does one get this virus other than by opening attachements?

[FourPeas]

Mr. FourPeas expects something in about 4-6 weeks.

[FourPeas]

It's not e-mail related.

[strela]

Huh? I thought Blaster was an email virus. I wasn't aware that it could be contracted using IE (unless you use Outhouse crapware to read your email or something).

[Ken522]

I talked to a techie a couple days ago at Best Buy - he said a large number of people were bringing their computers in because of some kind of virus ... anyone know anything about it? Has anyone been affected by a computer-related "virus" lately? Thanks.

[Rodney King]

How do you get it then?

[hsmomx3]

From what I gather it breaks in to your system. My AV kept freezing up my system due to an incompatibility with Netscape and I had to turn it off. I have a firewall installed and I refuse to use IE. Call me stupid, yes, but we have not had a problem.

[Chad Fairbanks]

And IE is responsible for this how, exactly? THis particular nasty isn't an IE Exploit...

I've used IE, and other Microsoft products - from Operating Systems to Office Suites etc... for years and years and have never, not once, been hit by a Virus, Trojan, Worm or other security breach...

Why is that?

[Squantos]

Got to grisoft.com and get AVG. It's free ! best anti-virus going IMHO. Then get Ad-aware 6 from lavasoft. Also free with updates ! Get the latest update for your OS and set back an wait. Blaster will either ignore ya or let you know it is the "F U" in the word Fun !

Stay safe .......good luck !

[Rodney King]

I don't know how it all works really, but I use Opera for my browser. I currently use a wirless connection for my laptop, and have been told that I don't need a firewall as the wireless unit acts as one, but I don't know if that's true or not.

On another note, I don't think I have encryption activated on my wireless. Does anyone know how to do that? Thanks.

[IpaqMan]

If you have a PC running Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0, or Windows XP and are connected to the Internet, you may be vulnerable. No action is needed by the user in order to be "infected".

A request from another computer is made to your port 135 as a remote procedure call. If your PC responds, a request is made to copy a file to your PC which is then executed. A change is made to your registry to restart this program on a reboot. This program now takes on the task of finding another victim computer.

If you are using Windows 95 or 98 or Millenium, you will not be infected, since these systems do not support the remote procedure call.

If you are using a hardware or software firewall that blocks port 135, you will not be infected. The Linksys router is an example of such a hardware firewall. Zonealarm is an example of a software firewall.

I noted on my firewall log that there have been many port 135 requests to my network.

[Squantos]

Zonealarm wont hurt ya either.......free edition is available !

Stay Safe !

[Investment Biker]

This worm finds you on the internet and installs itself on your computer through your connection. To check to see if you have it and delete it and fix your registry download the fixbalster software from symantec at securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/FixBlast.exe just copy and paste this link to you address at the top hit return and a small file about 180k will down load. run the file it will scan your system. I had the worm and probably have it again as I am in the process of downloading microsoft service pack to install the patch.

[IpaqMan]

BTW, this has nothing to do with IE, only with Windows.

[Rodney King]

Why is that?

Because you don't open random attachements like lots and lots and lots of people, particularly women, do.

[P.O.E.]

I downloaded the scanner from Symantech, and it didn't find anything. I use Windows ME, but I just wanted to check anyway.

[willieroe]

I currently use a wirless connection for my laptop, and have been told that I don't need a firewall as the wireless unit acts as one, but I don't know if that's true or not.

Not true.

[Yeti]

I got an email "special edition" of msdn newsletter about steps to take to avoid it, but haven't messed with it. I skimmed it, saw that most of it involved enabling the firewall, which I already have.

Don't open attachments. I have used Eudora for email for a long time, and have never been affected by any of the big viruses.

[Auntie Mame]

Hope someone corrects me if I'm wrong, but I understand that this "worm" infects your computer from surfing the internet. It only affects computers running Windows 2000 and XP. It is NOT a virus, it is a serious flaw in these two operating systems.

How to tell if you've got the worm? Your computer won't work well on the web, constanting shutting down. However, it affected my daughter's computer differently. Her CD drives wouldn't work and her fixit guy told her before she brought it in for repair to download the patch and see if that did the trick. She did and now everything works fine.