Conficker Computer Worm A Bust

Little Impact Seen From Latest Computer Attack Timed For April 1

(CNET)  This story was written by CNET's Elinor Mills.

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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.

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CNET Roundup OF Conficker Developments

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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.

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.

[toolmangler-2009]

If everyone bought a mac, no viruses would be written for windows. Just macs. See how it works genius?
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'

[I_am_me1953]

So, what is the intention behind the worm, anyway? Why all the fuss?

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.
_____________________________________

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.

[panton41]

MacOS X wasn't "written with security in mind" it was merely based on various BSD *NIXs, which themselves are more secure due to the way UNIX works. Last I heard there are 50 MacOS X viruses "in the wild" (so, yes, you DO need anti-virus on a Mac), about a million for various forms of Windows and none for Linux. Does it mean Linux is more secure than MacOS X? Maybe, but more likely it's a smaller target. Every OS has security flaws, Microsoft is the largest target AND does a poor job patching them in a timely manner. MacOS X and Linux (as well as BSDs) are largely if not totally open source software and tend to patch on a more frequent basis than month on "patch Tuesday".

[cs4466]

JESUS MADE CONFICKER DISAPPEAR
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!

[cs4466]

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

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-)

[missingamerica]

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

Posted by Newster1 at 10:54 AM : Apr 1, 2009

Uninformed = overconfident.

[barbaram99]

That is right. We have a firewall. McAfee/Norton is on duty and up to date..

[rsmik]

Buy a Mac! Every year! Make Steve rich!

[scottyusa]

The sky is falling the sky is falling! Just like global warming. If I were a hacker I would have made it look like it was set for the first and have it really kick in on the second. April Fool

[pw08-2009]

Here the media generates a story yesterday to scare anyone with a computer, then the very next day says..."conficker fails to cause the digital pandemonium..." Although the issue is real, maybe the media should step back and just report the facts about it, instead of apparently trying to create pandemonium...but that's asking too much and the media plays this out over and over with various stories.

[CBSrocks]

Ha Ha ha buy a MAC! Who do you think is best served by creating Chaos in Windows systems? Apple is your answer! Which makes me wonder who funds all this malicious code....ah let's see....could it be McAffee....MicroTrend...or could it be Norton ...ah the possibilities..................on who benefits so much from creating chaos in the computer and software industries...

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!

[Newster1]

No there are viruses everywhere!! No it's going to be horrible! Buy a mac! They're immune to everything! Hurry buy one now!

*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!

[mnelsonix]

"Today, as on any day, PC users should make sure their systems are patched and running the latest security software."
________
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.

[cs4466]

No there are viruses everywhere!! No it's going to be horrible! Buy a mac! They're immune to everything! Hurry buy one now!


*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.

[I_am_me1953]

They'll sell millions of anti-virus programs over this one. So,who's the April Fool?

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 $$.

[I_am_me1953]

It was thwarted by prayer.

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.

[lemonskinkus]

They'll sell millions of anti-virus programs over this one. So,who's the April Fool?

www.ronnierayjenkins.com

[sly_64]

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.