Is Your Computer Safe? Virus Kills Internet Use
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Sunday is the night computer users need to check their PC for malware.
Hackers were arrested months ago for infecting hundreds of thousands of computers across the country with a damaging virus.
It's as simple as a click of your mouse that could save the life of your computer online.
"My email has been hacked before. I didn't appreciate it one bit," said Carie Minshall.
Thousands of people across the country have computers infected with a malicious virus and they don't even know it yet.
"A bunch of hackers got together and created a piece of malware that changes your settings and so the FRI, once aware of that, took control of the servers," said Merl Valles, Nerds On Call operations manager.
Five-hundred-seventy thousand computers were hit by an advertising scam.
The FBI busted the hacker ring.
"There is always a scare of viruses. I know when I open emails I am very careful as to who they are from," said Suzy Aylar, internet user.
Valles says the FBI protected online users everywhere but now have to call it quits.
"In lieu of kicking everyone offline, they kept people online by keeping the servers active. But on July 9, they will be turning off those servers which will stop your connection to the internet," said Valles.
Those internet servers were set up as temporary safety nets for those with the virus.
Starting at midnight, the virus will attack computers affected.
That means no more surfing the web.
"It's always a concern that someone could get in and get your information," said Aylar.
But there's a website that can keep you safe.
The site allows computer users to see if they have been hit by the bug and fix the problem.
"My advice would be to have good practices on the computer. Make sure you have good security software on your computer and is up-to-date. You run those scans on a regular basis," said Valles.
