Conficker Now Instructed To Steal

Identity Theft A Concern For Those With Infected Computers

(CBS)  The Conficker worm that infected millions of computers around the world this month is now morphing and spreading, and is apparently posing an identity theft issue.

CNET-TV Senior Editor Natali Del Conte updated Early Show viewers Monday on what Conficker is doing and how it could be affecting your computer.

Del Conte told co-anchor Harry Smith Conficker is now parading as an anti-virus program called Spyware Protect 2009. The worm takes users to a fake secuirty Web site, asks them to pay $50 for a spyware program that actually is the Conficker worm, then keeps your credit card information, to boot. "It infects your computer," she told Smith. "And it keeps that $50."

Conficker can pop up on your computer in various ways, Del Conte added, whether as a pop-up that advertises a way to prevent the worm, or in your e-mail or Facebook account. She advises that, to be safe, you should never click on anything you're not familiar with.

Del Conte stressed that now is the time to be extra-careful: "We think it's going to self-destruct on May 3. So, whatever it's doing, it's doing right now. So now is the time to be diligent."

One way to tell your computer may be infected is if you can't go to any security Web sites, such as Trend Micro, Symantec or McAfee. You should also be concerned if you try to power down your computer and you can't. "That may mean someone else is driving," Del Conte said. "That's a bad sign."

If you were taken in by the fake security ad and used a credit card to pay that $50, she advises changing all your passwords immediately and doing so from a secure computer. Then, call your banks and have them change those passwords, and get a new credit card.

Finally, Del Conte noted other resources on the Internet to help you figure out if your computer is infected. You could go to Google.com and search for "Conficker eye chart;" you'll find a test that can diagnose your computer for you. "If you can see all the graphics, you don't have it," she said. "If you can't see some of them, that's a red flag."

[cgetti01]

This is more of a question. I heard Natalie say something about conficker eye chart, I went to google and typed in conficker eye chart but I am not sure which link to click on because I'm not sure if it is a legitimate web site for the conficker eye chart.

[rushlimpdrug]

So can't they find the perpetrators by finding out where that $50 went?
Posted by dbstevens at 1:32 PM

Very good point.

You'd think a lawyer would file a class action lawsuit and collect.

[godpsyco]

Great tip, the last one. My laptop isn't infected.
[e-mail]

[rf35]

Posted by An-Historian

Here's my question. If I were to switch to a Linux OS, would I still be able to run all my applications designed for Windows? Adobe CS (OK, that's basically a port from Mac), Avid, CorelDraw, not to mention Office and about 10 graphics-intensive games I like to unwind with?

[cbsantispin]

"Conficker Now Instructed To Steal"

Virus software takes on the personality of the people who wrote it, if a virus is stealing you can bet a Republican wrote it! LOL

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by p_syrus

All 'nix boxes can indeed be jacked, that has been a script kiddie sandbox for years if not decades. Don't forget that the internet DNS are 'nix based. It is not the infection of your box that is a concern, it is the hijacking of information that passes around the net that is the concern. Your info doesn't have to be stolen from your computer, it can be jacked from any other computer that has it, like for example your bank.

For you Mac heads, your time is also coming, its just that your market share is too small to be of concern, but don't forget, you are now 'nix boxes, as leopard is 'nix-based.

[rar100]

as in most aspects of life, the cheapest is seldom the best... a 500 dollar computer is just that...a 500 dollar computer...you get what ya pay for...unless your play'n games, do yourself a favor, get a mac...

[ToolMangler1]

I run 7 machines on XP Pro with full updates and one system on Vista, All my systems use zonealarm and AVG, Couple that with spybot and Adaware scans weekly and so far I have had 0 crashes or contaminations. All 8 systems are very solid performers. No brag, just fact...

[An-Historian]

Just switch to a Linux-based operating system and you won't have to worry about this sort of nonsense any more.

Sure, theoretically Linux operating systems could be targeted too, but in reality they never are. I've been using Linux for over a decade (both at home and in a corporate environment) and I have never actually seen a native Linux virus, trojan or worm in all that time. Never once!

In the past Linux wasn't always as easy for computer neophytes to use as Windows was, but that has changed dramatically in just the past few years. Newer distributions like Ubuntu are now every bit as "user friendly" as Windows is. And not only is Ubuntu immune to threats like Conficker, but it's a totally free operating system as well, and so is all the software that runs on it. That alone has saved me tens of thousands of dollars per year in associated costs.

Hackers like to target Windows for three main reasons: the first reason is that Microsoft has consistently proven itself to be an incredibly vicious and dishonest corporation that has tried every nasty trick in the book, over the years, to create a total monopoly for itself by ruthlessly destroying all competition, usually by resorting to highly illegal methods - and that's been verified time and again in the court systems around the globe, where Microsoft has repeatedly been found guilty of having used underhanded and illegal tactics to destroy competitors.

The second reason is that Windows is simply a very poorly designed operating system that lacks truly effective security mechanisms.

Lastly, Windows users are, in general, invariably among the least skilled of all computer users, making them very, very easy prey.

Personally, I would not trade my Ubuntu for all the money in the world, simply because it's such a vastly superior operating system - but I also love it because I sleep a lot better at night knowing that I don't have to worry about threats like Conficker.

Ditch Windows and try Ubuntu - chances are you won't regret it.

[ToolMangler1]

It wouldn't surprise me to find that Apple Inc funded the worms development. After all, it is in their interest.

[p_syrus]

Microsoft is the target because it is the most widespread program, and because of an irrational hate Microsoft attitude among a small segment of the population. The army has run programs based on Unix and linux and they actually seem to be more prone to crashing than standard Windows programs.
Posted by J_G_H

Microsoft is a target because it's software is crap and the company is a convicted criminal enterprise with a lengthy history of using coercive & deceitful practices in marketing its products. The M$ business model is to achieve customer "lock in" on its products and then milk those customers for fees on an annual basis for maintaining access to the customer's own data.

All versions of windows I have ever had occasion to use, all up to and including XP & Vista, crash regularly. Microsoft systems are designed to maximize revenues for the company. They are not designed to meet customer requirements or the principles of reliability engineering.

I have several computing systems. All run some version of Linux. They do NOT crash. :-)

Thanks to u.s. political preoccupation with benefiting the "home grown" monopolist M$, Asian & other software developers are likely to completely eclipse developing u.s. computing capabilities in the coming decades. They will do so on Linux platforms which have the distinct advantage of being "open source". Because of the GPL & similar FOSS licenses, many of those advances will be available to those companies & individuals who are not structurally "locked in" to the M$ corporate business model.

[krauq]

OK Apple! You win! Stop! Please?

[dbstevens]

So can't they find the perpetrators by finding out where that $50 went?

[J_G_H]

Microsoft is the target because it is the most widespread program, and because of an irrational hate Microsoft attitude among a small segment of the population. The army has run programs based on Unix and linux and they actually seem to be more prone to crashing than standard Windows programs. I have XP on my laptop and Vista on my desktop. I have an occasional program lock up but recover is much quicker and smoother than the Windosw 3.1, Windows 95 days, although even then I did not have that many crashes. I suspect a lot of the problem comes from performance shortcuts from the gaming world.

[incog-nito]

This just in! A new worm more dangerous than Conficker has been detected. It goes by the name Motherficker.

[omega39-2009]

Get yourself a good firewall and set it up so that anything requesting access to the network requires user intervention. Zone Alarm and Comodo are both free and do a good job.

[geminispyder-2009]

Only they get new names so now Microsoft can make you buy them AGAIN! :-)

Sucka's.
Posted by caligula1--2008 at 9:20 AM : Apr 13, 2009

You are arguing that buying a Microsoft OS once every 3-4 years for a few hundred bucks each is definately more cost-efficient than buying a $2500+ mac that would need to be thrown out every 5-6 years b/c of obsolecence.

Idiot.

[geminispyder-2009]

"Conficker Now Instructed To Steal"

As opposed to the countless other viruses/worms that don't get as much publicity but can do the exact same thing?

Once again, CBS proves it's ineptitude at news reporting as opposed to news-making by trying to salvage a two-week old dead topic.

[incog-nito]

I have modified Conficker and instructed it to make me a cup of coffee every morningl.

[kcits]

windows, firefox, almost all of them sooner or later leave an opening for hackers or whatever. thinking that when these people, whoever they are, are caught they should be executed immediately. there is no severe punishment and many are hired by security firms at great salaries further encouraging the hackers. people do need to keep computer updates current and subscribe to mcafee, symantec, or some such company for ongoing security protection. it's money well spent.
Posted by longtree-2009
******************************************
No, the difference between say, Window and say Firefox is that happens when an exploit is found. Mozilla Firefox is patched within days to a week. Microsoft, its more like months, if ever. The poor security model is to blame, Windows thinks its possible to have security by obscurity, or hiding the code. I much prefer security by FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) applications like Firefox. Where the code is given to everyone, its looked at and a million eyes test it.
An example
Windows its like taking the code and putting in in an apartment in America and not giving anyone the address except to 5 people. They hope no one finds a flaw because only a handful of people (if we are lucky) are allowed to work on it along with other things.
Firefox, the code is published in USA today and everyone tries to find the flaw. Those found are fixed.