Posted on 07/07/2012 5:18:07 PM PDT by Libloather
Thousands may lose Internet access when FBI shuts down servers
By Brendan Sasso - 07/06/12 10:45 AM ET
Hundreds of thousands of people could lose Internet service on Monday when the FBI shuts down servers from an online fraud ring that allegedly planted a virus among computer users.
The FBI says about 252,000 computers worldwide could be affected and that about 45,000 of those computers are in the United States.
Users can check whether their computer is infected with the malicious software — often called malware — by visiting dcwg.org, a site run in cooperation with the FBI, or by visiting an anti-virus site such as McAfee.
The problem stems from an alleged Internet fraud ring that the FBI shut down in November. Prosecutors said the hackers used a virus to hijack Internet searches and re-rout computers to paid websites and advertisements.
The FBI realized that if it shut down the servers that were used to control the infected computers, all of those people would suddenly be kicked off the Internet.
So in an unusual move, the FBI set up clean servers to allow the infected computers to continue accessing the Web. But the servers were only meant to be a temporary fix to give people time to clear out the malware.
The FBI will shut down the clean servers at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Monday, July 9.
That means thousands of people might be unable to access the Internet and will have to call their Internet service provider for help deleting the malware.
Many Internet providers have already contacted customers who are infected. Comcast, for example, says it has reached out to infected users with emails, letters, in-browser notifications and even phone calls.
Charlie Douglas, a spokesman for Comcast, said the company believes that only a "tiny fraction" of its users will be affected.
Google and Facebook have also posted messages to alert people whose computers might be infected.
ping!
Total Canard.
Funny that most of those letters came from Nigerian email addresses and the callers all had foreign accents.
I lived without internet before there was internet. I can do so again if need be.
So...to keep from being shut off by the FBI, I just need to pay a visit to an FBI website?
Thanks for my cooperation!
I don’t think so. Why would I want the FBI to have a record of my IP Address?
If you don't, you'll be assessed a tax next April.
Oh. Then it’s OK then....
Most likely if you get the FBI page on your pc, its likely a scam. download a anti-Malware prog. to get rid of it.
I visited the web site at:
and here is what I got:
Your computer appears to be looking up IP addresses correctly!
Had your computer been infected with DNS changer malware you would have seen a red background. Please note, however, that if your ISP is redirecting DNS traffic for its customers you would have reached this site even though you are infected. For additional information regarding the DNS changer malware, please visit the FBI’s website at:
http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2011/november/malware_110911
Bump
I went to the Australia one and it said I was OK.
As all too common, the impacted platforms are Windows. Linux and Mac were blithely unaffected.
Don’t question the FBI.. they only have our welfare in mind!
Visit their site and register...do not question them...just do it!
HERETIC!!!
(Ha, Ha!)
“Thanks for my cooperation!”========
God Bless us!
Really? Wouldn't that open a whole new round of problems?
So... does that mean that my internet access speed will improve ?
Here’s the odd thing.
Has ANYONE heard or read of ANYONE who went to that site, and got a RED SCREEN ?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.