Conficker worm infects 9 million ... and counting
Security vendors are issuing warnings about a virulent new worm, which took down Ministry of Health systems for 15 days.
Conficker – also known as Downadup or Kido – is a uniquely pestilent species of worm, infecting PCs via the internet or “manually” via USB thumb drives. Once it has infected a computer, Conficker “phones home” to a malicious server, which delivers a payload of malware (which could be any malware, such as a programme that sniffs out personal details).
Where most worms download malware from a specific server, Conficker randomly generates hundreds of domains each day – making it a moving target for virus hunters.
While Conficker first crawled onto the net in October last year, its latest, more deviously replicating version is only around three weeks old. Two weeks ago, the number of infected PCs was around 3 million. Now security software company F-Secure puts the number at 9 million and counting.
Windows XP and older versions of Windows are most at risk from the worm. Users are advised to install Microsoft’s latest patch and, as ever, to update their security software.
Once Conficker infects, it appears to be difficult to root out. Computerworld reports that the Ministry of Health is only now on the verge of giving an all-clear after a 15-day battle with the worm, which hit 2000 of its PCs, and caused the ministry to temporarily sever its connection to the internet to avoid infecting others.
Download Microsoft’s patch here; read F-Secure’s security advisory here.
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Comments and questions10
Not only can this virus disrupt your PC, since it can disable your ability to connect to software update sites it leaves you vulnerable to even more malware. You need to disable AutoPlay as well as patch your PC. See: http://www.downadup.com
Don't mess around with buggy unreliable Windows any longer.
Simply go to www.ubuntu.com and download the latest version of UBUNTU. By the way Linux works it is impossible to get a worm.
And it's quite quite free. Once you've done that you'll never want to use horrible Windows ever again.
Yeah right, keep on telling yourself that.
vyyugkigikg
Bud, you should state that it is ALMOST impossible for any flavour of Linux, as long as you keep your Linux O.S. updated. If you do not, Ubuntu, Fedora, Red Hat, any of them can become infected. I has happen, just ask an "IT" at NASA Space Center.
Bud, you should state that it is ALMOST impossible for any flavour of Linux, as long as you keep your Linux O.S. updated. If you do not, Ubuntu, Fedora, Red Hat, any of them can become infected. I has happen, just ask an "IT" at NASA Space Center. I use Fedora 10, which you can download 32 and/or 64 bit at "http://fedoraproject.org/ " just follow the links for bitorrent, mirrors, etc..
I should point out my Ubuntu box is updated automatically daily, and I'm sure anyone at NASA would tell you Linux is safer than Windows
http://www.londongranite.com
Mr. Norrie:
Two quick points:
Anyone who has Windows Patched daily automatic has not been open to Confiker since Oct. Besides, I kinda like being able to actually do real work. Ubuntu is pretty darn good, but since the costs of Windows and all my Microsoft products **combined** cost an additional $0.75US per day, my time is more valuable working then trying to get a driver to install and work. BTW: I have NEVER - as in not once - lost 1 minute to a virus or other malware on my windows machines; desktop or server.
There have been crritically bad linux worms dating back to 2001. Here is a partial list:
Worms
Adm - Net-Worm.Linux.Adm
Adore
Cheese - Net-Worm.Linux.Cheese
Devnull
Kork
Linux/Lion
Mighty - Net-Worm.Linux.Mighty
Millen - Linux.Millen.Worm
Ramen worm
Slapper
SSH Bruteforce
If you're going to say such idiotic dribble in your post, you may want to consider using an alias.
G'day!
http://www.graniteworksmd.com/
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