Are you ready for the Conficker Worm?

[rockouthippie]

There's a worm, the Conficker Worm, that's supposed to activate itself tomorrow, April 1st and raise hell.

If you can't get to the Windows Update site, you probably have it. If you can get to the Windows Update Site. Make sure you're updated.

Malicious Software Removal Tool from MS will get rid of it:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/ma...e/default.mspx

If you can't load that URL, then you probably have the virus. It is a particularly well designed turd and will infect computers throughout your lan if it gets into one of them.

Use a linux live CD or an uninfected computer to retrieve the MSRT if you are goobered.

If you know who the responsible hackers are, Microsoft will give you $250,000 to rat them out.

[fc*uk]

I'm still not entirely convinced that this is not some sort of an elaborate hoax.

[deeder7001]

I've never heard of it before. Any my computer doesn't have any anti-virus programs installed. Never needed them and don't see the need now.

I practice safe surfing habits. Not my problem if you're going to dodgy porn sites.

[rockouthippie]

Microsoft released a patch specifically for this malware back in October. I used to be with you Deeder. It only happens rarely, but I've gotten burnt with that theory before. Even reputable web sites can get hacked to spread some malware. Lately that seems to be the mode of attack for these idiots. I'd at least run the machine by a reputable free scan once in a while.... and run Spybot... That will keep most of it out because in active mode it tells you if anything tries to change the system registry.

I am a little irked at the way people sell anti-virus software. You run the scan and it detects ad-cookies and tells you you "must" disinfect your computer because of some terrible threat! OMG! It's an ad cookie! Red Alert! Phasers set on kill!

On the other side of the coin, I have this friend Brian... He's a home brew security nut and gets into his security settings and system registry. Brian doesn't need a virus, he does a great job of screwing his computer up without them. A died in the wool "I don't need a virus scanner!". He does however need a computer course that would tell him what not to mess with.