Thread: Conficker Worm

Conficker worm is scheduled to do something tomorrow. It's worth double checking to make sure you have the latest windows updates.

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/com...conficker.mspx

Microsoft, Mcafee, Norton and now the Department of Homeland Security all have detection software available. I understand that removal is pretty difficult for this worm.

Lucky Shot

good call lucky...ill be sure that my mcafee is updated

How is it spread?

Does Vista automatically update? Anyone recommend an update for Vista?

Not sure if anyone else saw the 60 minutes piece on the virus but this stuff fascinates me. The idea that some 15 year old kid in Russia can create havoc for tens of millions of computers is quite a thought. The power of computer nerds is not to be trifled with.

Removal is pretty straightforward now with a lot of the security software vendors releasing customized removal tools. MalwareBytes, Symantec, McAfee and Trend Micro I know have removal capabilities.

If you are infected, Confliker is also known as Downaup. Security Best Practices in removal begins updating your anti-virus software and immediately disconnecting yourself from the Internet and your Local Network after detection (or after displaying infection symptoms), followed by going into MSConfig (Start > Run > MSconfig) and disabling all Startup items and Non-Microsoft services. Reboot your PC into Safe Mode (/w Networking is optional, but may be required). Run MalwareBytes and your Anti-virus scans to the most in-depth (this WILL typically take more than an hour). Avast! Anti-Virus (which is free) also has the ability to run Boot-Time Virus scans.

If your HDD is unable to boot up at all, buy a SATA/IDE to USB adapter and mount the hard drive on a functioning PC and run a scan on it in attempt to remove file infections (READ: This type of removal will NOT effectively remove infected registry hives/entries).

Symantec Conficker removal tool