April 1, 2009
Conficker Computer Worm A Bust
Little Impact Seen From Latest Computer Attack Timed For April 1
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(AP/CBS/IStockphoto)
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Play CBS Video Video Conficker Worm Warning CNET's Natali Del Conte shares tips with Maggie Rodriguez about the April 1 "Conficker" worm, which could steal financial information from your computer.
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Video Computer Virus Has Experts Stumped The Conficker Worm computer virus is infecting Windows-based computers worldwide and has experts stumped on how to stop it. It's expected to receive new instructions on April 1st. UTTM Computer Consultant John Quain discusses the virus.
As expected, the Conficker worm failed to cause the digital pandemonium that some may have feared.
So, can we all just go back to playing on Facebook and watching the game now?
Not really. Just because the worm failed to create much of a stir on the day it was set to activate, April 1, doesn't mean it won't wake up and act later.
"The (malicious) hackers can tell their worm to do something any day of the year; they're just as likely to do it tomorrow or next Wednesday or in August," said Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant with Sophos.
Then why the April 1 message in the code?
Cluley says he doesn't know. "This was such an invisible change inside the code. It was inconsequential to the infected computer that maybe (the creators) didn't think there would be such a frenzy," he said.
Today, as on any day, PC users should make sure their systems are patched and running the latest security software. People should patch their systems to close the hole in Windows it exploits and update their anti-virus software. The major anti-virus vendors all have free Conficker removal tools.
CNET Roundup OF Conficker Developments
The worm also can spread via network shares and removable storage devices like USB thumb drives. So users are advised to use strong passwords when sharing files on a network and to download a patch Microsoft released to address the Autorun feature problem in Windows that makes using removable storage risky.
Oh, and be careful about searching for Conficker removal software on Google. Scammers have managed to get fake security sites among the top searches, Cluley said. Bogus sites are designed to steal your credit card information and could install malware on your computer instead of a legitimate security program.
So, what is the intention behind the worm, anyway? Why all the fuss?
Like many other worms, it's likely the Conficker worm is designed to create a botnet that could be used to send spam, launch denial-of-service attacks to shut down Web sites or steal data from infected computers.
David Perry, global director of security education at Trend Micro, said he suspects that the worm creators will slice up the botnet and sell it to spammers via underground forums, like they did with the Storm worm.
"The funny thing is that everyone has these expectations that come to them from science fiction viruses. In the movies they blow up the terminal, tip over an oil tanker and bring aliens out of the sky," said Perry. "In reality, the kind of thing a botnet does is much less visible. It's a lot more insidious of them to steal your bank password than to blow up your computer."
Hear more about what happened and didn't and why on this CNET podcast.
By Elinor Mills
Copyright ©2008 CNET Networks, Inc., a CBS Company. All rights reserved.
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The secrets of tennis legend 
Posted by Kuei1248 at 4:34 PM : Apr 1, 2009
Posted by real1413 at 3:55 AM : Apr 2, 2009
Well said and true. Some people are totally 'clueless'
Oh, and be careful about searching for Conficker removal software on Google. Scammers have managed to get fake security sites among the top searches, Cluley said. Bogus sites are designed to steal your credit card information and could install malware on your computer instead of a legitimate security program.
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And there you have it folks, as good of a reason as any. Set up a scare, set-up a bogus antivirus web site, steal $$, credit card numbers, IDs, passwords.
Everything all at once and you don't even have to write code to do DOS or spam.
Posted by limbaughisadick at 10:03 PM : Apr 1, 2009
Well, Jesus defeats evil, and conficker was obviously the work of Satan so it just stands to reason you must be right. Praise the lord! LOL!
Posted by Newster1 at 10:54 AM : Apr 1, 2009
Uninformed = overconfident.
Posted by missingamerica at 8:11 PM : Apr 1, 2009
Actually it's uninformed = overconfident = infected = embarrassed.
Eventually, anyway. 8-)
Posted by Newster1 at 10:54 AM : Apr 1, 2009
Uninformed = overconfident.
I love every Microsoft and Gates do will stick to my old Clunky PC which ROCKS every second of everyday.
I guess I also admire Apple and Steve Jobs they are both great American companies!
*snicker*
Woudln't be surprised if this whole thing wasn't another savvy marketing ploy by Steve Jobs who must have recently got bored with his walkman err...ipod.
SNICKER, I guess I laugh last since I HAVE nothing but G3 then G4 powerpc Mac systems, and with OSX and have for the last 12 years. I have NEVER had to buy any anti virus or other security software, downloading and installing OS patches and bug repairs and on and on and on, I surf the web for hours a day, I download scads of files, software and thousands of emails. Not once has my computer been affected by a worm, virus or the like. But my emails on lists are always clogged up with requests for HELP! HELP! -due to the latest VIRUS warning and people posting that their PC crawled to a halt, crashed and burned due to one and they lost everything (never backed up ANYTHING)
I have to laugh at the stupidity of people going thru all that like dumb sheep because they refuse to switch from microcrud windoze to linux or Mac OSX. I have a friend who has a friend that worked in one of those anti-virus companies and who told him that virus' ARE passed thru the back door of the company and that is how they keep in business- develop a virus, push it out the back door onto the net and then miraculously in a day or two they suddenly come up with a "patch" or "fix" for this and any other virus, of course you have to buy their products to be "safe", what a SCAM!
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Bunch-O-BS. If you have a clue about your OS, and know how to "have safe surf," you'll be fine without security software.
What's the joke among techies? I think it's...
Security software is Great! Unless you want to use your computer.
*snicker*
Woudln't be surprised if this whole thing wasn't another savvy marketing ploy by Steve Jobs who must have recently got bored with his walkman err...ipod.
www.ronnierayjenkins.com
Posted by lemonskinkus at 7:59 AM : Apr 1, 2009
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Well for the really cheap of us out here; my anti-virus program is free for personal use. There are several of these free user anti-virus programs, just the basic program, no frills, that work amazingly well. They also offer a paid-for version that does have all the bells and whistles if you want them. I don't get them because I just want the cover and removal, not the pretty lights that come with the $$.
Posted by Harry_Snapperorgans at 7:43 AM : Apr 1, 2009
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Troll, I have to agree with you on this one. I really wouldn't know what to do if you had gotten this worm and wouldn't be able to continue posting on this site on a daily basis. My most lonely times are when I can't read a daily post from you.
www.ronnierayjenkins.com
- by sly_64 April 1, 2009 10:51 AM EDT
- Another story blown out of proportion. What the media and techies effectively did was make the creator of this worm, delay it's attack. Why would they want to it to do damage while everyone was looking. They'll modify it's structure a bit and set it lose when they want, not when people expect it.
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