SAN FRANCISCO - The dreaded date when the new version of the virus Conficker begin to turn up in millions of computers finally came and went without you register damage, but the experts recommend not to lower our guard in the coming days.
The latest generation of the threat, known as "Conficker.C", "Downandup" or "Kido" which has infected millions of machines around the world, was scheduled to connect on 1 April these computers to the servers of the creators of the virus.
Experts explained that the security in Conficker trigger this mechanism, but was a greater activity by the virus is not produced major crimes.
The discretion of the criminals not surprised, since the date was known and that companies, governments and users reinforced the security of their systems. Even the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) U.S. launched on Wednesday a warning about the virus and said to be working "with the government, intelligence agencies and the private sector to mitigate the threat."
- All who fight against the virus are now in full alert - said Joris Evers, an analyst at antivirus firm McAfee, the press the U.S. to explain why those responsible for the virus could wait another moment to act.
Analysts are not very sure as to what may occur in the coming days and therefore ask that everyone keep their attention.
- Could be tomorrow, next week or month that is - alert Roger Thompson, the AVG researcher, who said that never thought the virus would act on April 1.
The Conficker has the ability to create what is known as networks of "zombie" or "slaves," computers connected to remote servers without the knowledge of their owners and in which hackers can operate. Since they can control a computer, for example, attacking corporate networks or organizations, steal identities or send large amounts of spam, among other offenses.
Despite the international attention generated by this Wednesday viruses, this is not the first time the Conficker was scheduled to change their way of operation. On the last day of January 1, for example, experts expect something similar, but the day passed without major amendments.
The Conficker, one of the horses-for-Troia most damaging in history, confusing the head of the experts since October last year, without which its creators have been discovered.
Microsoft, whose Windows operating system is so far the only vulnerable to the virus, in February offered a reward of $ 250 thousand for those who give information about the creators. Experts at Symantec, which makes the Norton antivirus, believe that the fight against Conficker become even more difficult in the future.
"The virus begins to take more measures to protect themselves. We believe that use a communication system more difficult to be stopped," pointing.
Learn how to defend themselves from viruses that infected 15 million PCs and is bothering to Microsoft.
They are the terror of the USA who internet. Malware! It is difficult for an Internet user has never had problems with viruses and other malicious programs that infest the cyberspace.
Lately the virtual world has been concerned about a new and unknown threats around the internet and that is bothering one of the most powerful companies in the world: Microsoft.
He is called Conficker and estimates more than 15 million infected computers. Its effects are still a mystery, because the information he can still unclear. His power should be known tomorrow: experts believe that it will be activated on April 1, 2009.
Until the computer giant Microsoft entered the fight and on February 13 this year offered a reward of $ 250 thousand to help those who hold their creators. This malware is Conficker, aka Downadup, which emerged last year and already has all the warning signs of the virtual world.
This malicious software takes advantage of a security gap in Windows operating systems and then lodges in the system. Experts at Symantec show that the largest number of infected PCs have Windows XP SP2 and Windows 2003 SP1 is updated. Unlike the originally believed it, Windows Vista is also vulnerable to this infection.
What is he capable?
Experts say it will be activated and perform their first attack tomorrow, April 1, 2009. But experts from Microsoft indicate that it prevents the use of action for restoring the system and low other malware to your computer. Disabling the restoration, prevents the virus that you can restore your system to a point prior to any change.
Objectives malicious
But you should be questioning is: what would be the order to invade so many machines simultaneously? Searching the Internet, a hypothesis was quite applicant to ensure that those responsible for this malware aimed to create a huge Botnet.
Botnets are networks of machines infected by viruses that make them "zombies", that is, they are vulnerable to a remote control, the simultaneous and coordinated way, for other machines. Thus, the creators of Conficker could soon spread spam messages and even undermine the structure of Internet in the entire country, all without leaving the front of a central computer. By comparison, one of the most threatening of botnets today called Storm, has its network in 80 thousand machines a number of million times less than the estimated 15 million of Conficker by F-Secure. Ie independent of the malware that is able, probably will cause damage to many people. Because of all the uproar around this threat, many cibercriminosos take advantage to get new victims. So, be careful and not get off by clicking on any link that will take you to the cure of Conficker. Before that, try to verify the source of information, where it is and where to take you.
Other crackers were able to manipulate search results in Google, promising protection against the new version of the virus to be launched tomorrow. Indeed, these links may take you to pages with new infections to your computer, which would be something unpleasant. Although the search engine Google is one of the most efficient in the world, he can not always be 100% secure. Stay tuned! F-Secure also published a false page on the Internet that promises to have the cure for this plague. Accessing the site remove-conficker.org, users could download a virus that would handle it.
Only that in practice what happens is exactly the opposite. The downloaded program infects your machine and offers the full version of software for $ 40, so that you can clean your PC. The page cited is disabled, but it is always good to be with both eyes open with these hood rat.
So if you really want to download to protect a good antivirus program like Kaspersky, NOD32 to the Avira, Norton, F-Secure, BitDefender, or the many other great genre of software that will help you maintain your safety. Remember also to keep the database of your antivirus always updated, this is another point importante.A F-Secure also published a false page on the Internet that promises to have the cure for this plague. Accessing the site remove-conficker.org, users could download a virus that would handle it.
Only that in practice what happens is exactly the opposite. The downloaded program infects your machine and offers the full version of software for $ 40, so that you can clean your PC. The page cited is disabled, but it is always good to be with both eyes open with these hood rat.
So if you really want to download to protect a good antivirus program like Kaspersky, NOD32 to the Avira, Norton, F-Secure, BitDefender, or the many other great genre of software that will help you maintain your safety. Remember also to keep the database of your antivirus always updated, this is another important point. Really?
"When a charity is too much distrust the saint," says the old saying popular. Is that a threat so great, even compared to the Millennium Bug because of lack of information, have announced the date of this release, so openly? It is to be wary, after all, the cyber apocalypse probably would not be announced to the four corners in this way. In any event, the Conficker exist and caution never hurts, so, and keep your antivirus updated, look also perform a backup of what is essential in your machine not to run greater risks.
