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Last-minute Conficker survival guide
Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:42PM EDT
See Comments (1156)
Buzz up!on Yahoo!Tomorrow -- April 1 -- is D-Day for Conficker, as whatever nasty payload it's packing is currently set to activate. What happens come midnight is a mystery: Will it turn the millions of infected computers into spam-sending zombie robots? Or will it start capturing everything you type -- passwords, credit card numbers, etc. -- and send that information back to its masters?
No one knows, but we'll probably find out soon.
Or not. As Slate notes, Conficker is scheduled to go "live" on April 1, but whoever's controlling it could choose not to wreak havoc but instead do absolutely nothing, waiting for a time when there's less heat. They can do this because the way Conficker is designed is extremely clever: Rather than containing a list of specific, static instructions, Conficker reaches out to the web to receive updated marching orders via a huge list of websites it creates. Conficker.C -- the latest bad boy -- will start checking 50,000 different semi-randomly-generated sites a day looking for instructions, so there's no way to shut down all of them. If just one of those sites goes live with legitimate instructions, Conficker keeps on trucking.
Conficker's a nasty little worm that takes serious efforts to bypass your security defenses, but you aren't without some tools in your arsenal to protect yourself.
Your first step should be the tools you already have: Windows Update, to make sure your computer is fully patched, and your current antivirus software, to make sure anything that slips through the cracks is caught.
But if Conficker's already on your machine, it may bypass certain subsystems and updating Windows and your antivirus at this point may not work. If you are worried about anything being amiss -- try booting into Safe Mode, which Conficker prevents, to check -- you should run a specialized tool to get rid of Conficker.
Microsoft offers a web-based scanner (note that some users have reported it crashed their machines; I had no trouble with it), so you might try one of these downloadable options instead: Symantec's Conficker (aka Downadup) tool, Trend Micro's Cleanup Engine, or Malwarebytes. Conficker may prevent your machine from accessing any of these websites, so you may have to download these tools from a known non-infected computer if you need them. Follow the instructions given on each site to run them successfully. (Also note: None of these tools should harm your computer if you don't have Conficker.)
As a final safety note, all users -- whether they're worried about an infection or know for sure they're clean -- are also wise to make a full data backup today.
What won't work? Turning your PC off tonight and back on on April 2 will not protect you from the worm (sorry to the dozens of people who wrote me asking if this would do the trick). Temporarily disconnecting your computer from the web won't help if the malware is already on your machine -- it will simply activate once you connect again. Changing the date on your PC will likely have no helpful effect, either. And yes, Macs are immune this time out. Follow the above instructions to detect and remove the worm.
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Previous Post: Macworld moves to February Comments on Last-minute Conficker survival guide
Post a Comment
Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.
1 Posted by beershrine@sbcglobal.net on Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:09PM EDT Report Abuse
Conficker was designed by malware experts to sell you more software.
2 Posted by mrcantinflas3644 on Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:16PM EDT Report Abuse
Hi my anti-virus recently expired and right now I havent had money to re-new my anti-virus is there any free trials out there for the meantime.
3 Posted by artchick48 on Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:21PM EDT Report Abuse
mrcantinflas3644, try the FREE edition of AVG
4 Posted by dowtyoffice2 on Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:21PM EDT Report Abuse
Try the free version of AVG. It works great on my computer.
5 Posted by jobcook@bellsouth.net on Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:21PM EDT Report Abuse
I have been using a free antivirus software called Avast. I've been using it exclusively for several years now and with no problems. You can go to Avast.com and look for free antivirus downloads. Cheers
More Posts: First Prev 1 2 3 4 5 … Next Last
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2009 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. | Copyright/IP Policy | Terms of Service | Help
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Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.
Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.
Get Yahoo! ToolbarAccount OptionsNew User? Sign UpSign InHelpYahoo! Searchweb search
Site Navigation
HomeTech Categories
Camcorders
Car Tech
Cell Phones
Desktops
Digital Cameras
Games & Gear
HDTV & Televisions
Home Audio & Speakers
Home Video
Laptops
Monitors
MP3 Players
PDAs
Printers
Scanners
Software
Storage
Upgrades
Wi-Fi & Networking
Blogs
My Tech
News
Gina Hughes Christopher Null Ben Patterson Becky Worley Alexander Yoon
Christopher Null: The Working Guy
Blog Bio Email Email Alerts
Last-minute Conficker survival guide
Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:42PM EDT
See Comments (1156)
Buzz up!on Yahoo!Tomorrow -- April 1 -- is D-Day for Conficker, as whatever nasty payload it's packing is currently set to activate. What happens come midnight is a mystery: Will it turn the millions of infected computers into spam-sending zombie robots? Or will it start capturing everything you type -- passwords, credit card numbers, etc. -- and send that information back to its masters?
No one knows, but we'll probably find out soon.
Or not. As Slate notes, Conficker is scheduled to go "live" on April 1, but whoever's controlling it could choose not to wreak havoc but instead do absolutely nothing, waiting for a time when there's less heat. They can do this because the way Conficker is designed is extremely clever: Rather than containing a list of specific, static instructions, Conficker reaches out to the web to receive updated marching orders via a huge list of websites it creates. Conficker.C -- the latest bad boy -- will start checking 50,000 different semi-randomly-generated sites a day looking for instructions, so there's no way to shut down all of them. If just one of those sites goes live with legitimate instructions, Conficker keeps on trucking.
Conficker's a nasty little worm that takes serious efforts to bypass your security defenses, but you aren't without some tools in your arsenal to protect yourself.
Your first step should be the tools you already have: Windows Update, to make sure your computer is fully patched, and your current antivirus software, to make sure anything that slips through the cracks is caught.
But if Conficker's already on your machine, it may bypass certain subsystems and updating Windows and your antivirus at this point may not work. If you are worried about anything being amiss -- try booting into Safe Mode, which Conficker prevents, to check -- you should run a specialized tool to get rid of Conficker.
Microsoft offers a web-based scanner (note that some users have reported it crashed their machines; I had no trouble with it), so you might try one of these downloadable options instead: Symantec's Conficker (aka Downadup) tool, Trend Micro's Cleanup Engine, or Malwarebytes. Conficker may prevent your machine from accessing any of these websites, so you may have to download these tools from a known non-infected computer if you need them. Follow the instructions given on each site to run them successfully. (Also note: None of these tools should harm your computer if you don't have Conficker.)
As a final safety note, all users -- whether they're worried about an infection or know for sure they're clean -- are also wise to make a full data backup today.
What won't work? Turning your PC off tonight and back on on April 2 will not protect you from the worm (sorry to the dozens of people who wrote me asking if this would do the trick). Temporarily disconnecting your computer from the web won't help if the malware is already on your machine -- it will simply activate once you connect again. Changing the date on your PC will likely have no helpful effect, either. And yes, Macs are immune this time out. Follow the above instructions to detect and remove the worm.
Post Comment EmailIM del.icio.us Digg Print
Top 5 Posts
Leaving computers on overnight = $2.8 billion a year
Beware Conficker worm come April 1
Last-minute Conficker survival guide
Spirit airlines to launch fee for simply buying a ticket
Fish eats cell phone, still works after a week
More About Software
Last-minute Conficker sur ...
Apple sets the stage for ...
Beware Conficker worm com ...
Gossip: Jennifer Aniston ...
Get More Information About Software
Watch Video Reviews
Previous Post: Macworld moves to February Comments on Last-minute Conficker survival guide
Post a Comment
Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.
1 Posted by beershrine@sbcglobal.net on Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:09PM EDT Report Abuse
Conficker was designed by malware experts to sell you more software.
2 Posted by mrcantinflas3644 on Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:16PM EDT Report Abuse
Hi my anti-virus recently expired and right now I havent had money to re-new my anti-virus is there any free trials out there for the meantime.
3 Posted by artchick48 on Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:21PM EDT Report Abuse
mrcantinflas3644, try the FREE edition of AVG
4 Posted by dowtyoffice2 on Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:21PM EDT Report Abuse
Try the free version of AVG. It works great on my computer.
5 Posted by jobcook@bellsouth.net on Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:21PM EDT Report Abuse
I have been using a free antivirus software called Avast. I've been using it exclusively for several years now and with no problems. You can go to Avast.com and look for free antivirus downloads. Cheers
More Posts: First Prev 1 2 3 4 5 … Next Last
Post a Comment
Sign In to Post a Comment
Sponsored Links
Free Internet Explorer 8
Download the New, Optimized Version of Internet Explorer for Free Now.
IE8.MSN.com Try PC Security Software
Revolutionary security software. See & control ALL computer activity.
InterGuardSoftware.com Great Deals on Last-Minute Flights
Find Great Deals for Your Flight. Compare 100s of Fares & Book Now.
OneTime.com/lastminute computer software tools
Find Local Software Retailers - Video Games, Antivirus, Education.
Software.YellowPages.com
Also on Yahoo! TechComputers Home Office Wi-Fi & Networking Phones & PDAs Cameras & Camcorders TV & Home Theater Portable Audio
Upgrades
Desktops
Laptops
Software
Storage
Scanners
Monitors
Printers
Home Networking
PDAs
Cell Phones
Camcorders
Digital Cameras
Home Audio & Speakers
Home Video
Televisions
Games & Gear
MP3 Players
Car Tech
Site Map | Tour | Subscribe to Yahoo! Tech
Copyright
2009 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. | Copyright/IP Policy | Terms of Service | HelpNotice: We collect personal information on this site. To learn more about how we use this information, see our Privacy Policy
Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.
Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.
