Warning about a new computer virus that MAY already be in your system. SUPPOSE to activate April 1st. Please read article
from WTHR:
PC users warned of latest virus
Updated: March 25, 2009 10:15 PM EDT
David MacAnally/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis - PC users are bracing themselves for an April Fool's Day attack on their systems, and experts say it's time to take preventive action. Microsoft is so concerned it's posted a big reward in connection with a threat that isn't fooling.
The virus is already in some computers. On April 1st it's essentially calling home to get its attack orders.
The April Fool's virus threat is no laughing matter.
"No, it's definitely not an April Fool's joke," said David Greenberg, IUPUI computer expert.
The name of the virus is Conficker. Microsoft considers the PC virus so dangerous that it is offering a quarter-million-dollar reward for identifying the source of the virus.
"Starting April 1st they are upping the ante," said Greenberg. Right now it's able to spread infections from about 250 computers each day. But on April 1st, Greenberg predicts "it's going to be 50,000 sources a day. They can use any or all of those and it will make it much more difficult for the good guys to find them."
But if the virus finds you, it could steal personal information, corrupt your PC and jump from your system to others.
"Anti-virus software, if it's up to date, should protect you from the known varieties of this virus," said Greensberg.
Computer docs say other preventive medicine includes downloading the most recent patches from Microsoft. If you're using a USB drive or putting one in someone else's computer, hold down the SHIFT key while it connects. That can stop infection from passing.
"I have a weekly update that runs in my laptop so I keep up with that," said one IUPUI student.
Another said, "if it doesn't work I might be in trouble."
At the university some students had not heard of the threat. Others feared they may already be infected at home.
"Whenever I run a virus check now, always the same thing pops up. I'm trying to keep it updated but I think those things are slipping through," added another student.
Make sure you've got Microsoft's most recent security downloads.
Beware of pop-ups offering anti-viral protection. It may be the worm trying to penetrate your computer. Always know who you're buying from.
Threat explorer - This tool from Symantec allows you to look up viruses and other threats.
******************
There are links within the article that do not appear to have transferred. Please go to WTHR.com to read article and click
on links from Mircosoft. Computer Dude.. Do you have any other info to share about this? Thanks!
-
- Login or register to post comments
- Printer-friendly version
Yes GoldElox the bigger anti virus programs like Norton and Trend Micro have become nothing more than targets for the virus writers. Those all in one solutions or security suites are the worst! They integrate with other parts of the operating system and when the program gets damaged then other things quit working like your internet connection, printers and USB connections. I like the separate anti virus and spyware solution better meaning two separate programs with no integration into the operating system.
I've used firefox for atleast 2 years possibly longer, wouldn't use IE on my computer for anything. I also use AVG and have not had any troubles with "bugs" lol. The problem with the big antivirus programs is that those are the ones that hackers try the hardest to break through, because most people use those. Except for learning how to allow what you need to allow, they are pretty easy to use. :)
It seems every year we have a new April 1 virus threat but not one year in the last 11 have I had to remove any of them here in Elwood. That's not to say it does not exist just that I never seem to have the problems with them. As long as you stay away from downloading the free stuff ex: illegal music downloads, Some toolbars, Free Games that you download and opening emails that contain attachments, you should be alright. These days a lot of viruses are spread by clicking on a web page that has an active X control attached to it. AVG antivirus, which is free from grisoft.com has a built in search page checker that lets you know the page is safe to click on by putting a green check beside the link.
Also. Internet Explorer 6, 7 and now 8 all suck as far as security gos!!!!!!! Your IE browser is integrated with all the other windows in the operating system so if it gets damaged then the rest of windows will have problems as well. If you want to surf the web safer and faster then download Firefox 3 from firefox.com. If it gets damaged for some reason then it won't affect everything else and you can just reinstall it. When Internet Explorer gets damaged, it is not nearly as easy to fix and sometimes requires you to reinstall windows from scratch meaning you lose all your settings and files if not backed up. In my opinion IE 6,7 or 8 is not worth all the aggravation you run into when it gets damaged. Most internet related problems I get in at the shop is usually related to the IE browser being damaged so the browser security speaks for itself. Just staying away from this browser is the best medicine I can think of.
Hope this helps
Al
Several months ago I switched from IE to Mozilla Firefox... because IE was beginning to be such a pain in the butt!! I do not have near the problems from before. But some things (and they are becoming very few) won't open with firefox. It is probably because I don't have a setting right or something. I guess ALL of us just have to pay attention to what we are doing in cyberworld! NOT
everyone is your friend!!! Except for me!! I'm everyones friend!!! No wait... there are a few out there that I've had problems
with!!! Ahhh ... never mind! LOL!
thanks for the info
This is important and I hope all members take this seriously. Pass along to your other email friends. You never know who is connected to who!! It really is a small world out there and a worm could move pretty fast.
ok, i was playing sims the other day and the whole application crashed...i had to reinstall the whole game plus the expasion's ...lol i know if we all had problems this big...