SAN FRANCISCO - The dreaded Conficker computer worm is stirring. Security experts say the worm's authors appear to be trying to build a big moneymaker, but not a cyber weapon of mass destruction as many people feared. As many as 12 million computers have been infected by Conficker. Security firm Trend Micro says some of the machines have been updated over the past few days with fake antivirus software — the first attempt by Conficker's authors to profit from their massive "botnet." Criminals use bogus security software to extort money. Victims are told their computers are infected, and can be fixed only by paying for a clean-up that never happens. Conficker gets on computers through a hole Microsoft patched in October. PCs set up for automatic Windows updates should be clean. Goto: Huge computer worm Conficker stirring to life by AP: Yahoo! Tech As to the "should be clean" line, don't count on it! My oldest son, who is a network administrator for two colleges told me what to do "if" that fake shows up. It did once on a Reuters News link. It looked like a valid Microsolf warning that my computer was infected and I needed to download a new "virus killer". I did as he recommended, shut down that page and immediately ran my Norton 2009 AnitVirus which I update weekly. No problems, and contrary to the news article I always update my Vista with all the patches Microsoft sent out, and this Conficker worm still got in and tried to hijack my 'puter. It is especially adapted to DSL type connections, but since I still can only afford dial-up ISP it gets on our "old style" hook-ups too. Beware.
I know my opinions about those who create virisis to ruin peoples computers may sound cruel-even for me to say but, when they catch the(se) troublemakers-I hope they put their hands under an Abrams Tank and let the tank take care of business. One ponders a bit how they would then feel?
That punishment would be quite "kind" I think Carl...If you want cruel, then you should drag these "pasty-faced" losers out into the daylight and watch the "spontaneous combustion" that results as soon as the UV rays from the sun hits them. Fu***** Vampires that they are. :blasted:
It's still hard to believe people still click on those fake links and pay after so many warnings about phishing threats. You are right they are vampires, worse than the spamheads
The problem with the Conficker worm link is that it appears to be a valid warning from Microsoft, and as such has been known about for about two years. That was the security gap that the October security patch was supposed to close. It didn't, and when the Conficker worm again launched itself on April Fools Day, it still looks exactly like a Microsoft Warning. So beware is all I'm saying.
Cheers, whatever happens I always check first, on a forum for instance , or at the antivirus company site, they usually have updated warnings and keep people informed about traps until an antidote is found. If I have an infection. I don't use the computer until the antidote is there , this allows me to check a link with another computer
Dittos to both you and Skipper. Also, they are sick--but sick with greed. I heard that they already tried making money off this scare by marketing fake software. Pinheads like those rip me asp raw.
people who make that kind of **** should be set out in front of a firing squad armed with flamethrowers that is the way it should done they shall suffer until they say they wish that they would never have done that.
SALT LAKE CITY - University of Utah officials say a computer virus has infected more than 700 campus computers, including those at the school's three hospitals. University health sciences spokesman Chris Nelson said the outbreak of the Conficker worm, which can slow computers and steal personal information, was first detected Thursday. By Friday, the virus had infiltrated computers at the hospitals, medical school, and colleges of nursing, pharmacy and health. Nelson says patient data and medical records have not been compromised. "That's secured in a much deeper way because of the implications," he said. Nelson said the virus is mainly attacking personal computers and could be siphoning login and password data, credit card numbers and banking information… See: Conficker worm hits University of Utah computers by AP: Yahoo! Tech
