FBI, IT Specialist: How to Avoid Internet Malware Attack Monday

FBI, IT Specialist: How to Avoid Internet Malware Attack Monday

Sleeper malware could knock thousands off the internet Monday.

By Renea Henry Email the author July 8, 2012

A dozen years ago there was the widely dreaded Y2K virus that
threatened to wreak pandemic damage to computers around the globe. Now
there is a malware virus called DNSChanger that will spring into
action when users log onto the Internet this Monday, July 9 expecting
to access the Internet through their own Internet Service Provider
(ISP).

"The risk depends on what malware is intended to do," said Arthur
Anderson of Rye IT consulting service UFlex Data. Depending on the way
it is coded, Anderson explained, malware can disrupt Internet service
or even access data stored on your computer. That may include
information about your identity, passwords and other information.

The DNSChanger malware threatens to lock out tens of thousands of
people from Internet access Monday, July 9. It may also search out
private information.

According to the FBI, the trojan virus will divert users from
legitimate ISP servers to malicious sites that will alter their Domain
Namer Server, the unique address of your computing device. Without
access to the correct DNS and DNS servers, you would not be able to
access websites, send e-mail, or use any other Internet services.

A Huffington Post report citing FBI data estimates as many as 277,000
computers infected worldwide and about 64,000 in the United States.

What To Do

The FBI has set up a website with instructions and safe links to check
your computer for the malware at http://www.dcwg.org.

The FBI site shuts down just after midnight Sunday- at 12:01 a.m. EDT,
so don't wait!

If your cable company is your ISP, check their sites for
instructions. Click here for links to the pages Verizon and
Cablevision have set up for their customers

If the virus hits your computer, you will have to manually reset your
local DNS settings then make sure your computer is clean at http://www.dns-ok.us

Experts predict malware attack on personal computers, portable devices
and laptops, even smartphones will increase by the end of the year.
Antivirus software developer Trend Micro estimates more than a dozen
malicious apps were downloaded over 700,000 times from Google's
popular mobile app market before they were removed.

http://tarrytown.patch.com/articles/fbi-it-specialist-tells-how-to-avoid-internet-malware-attack-monday-decb26da
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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Web page not available offline - ?
    ... I'm wondering if you have been infected with malware. ... computer from the internet and/or any network to which it may be attached. ... Run HackerDefender Disabler. ... Check all 'startup' folders at ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser)
  • Re: Do I have TOO MANY antivirus, antispyware, etc
    ... >computer is retarted again and I ran the Windows Live Safety Center Scan, ... Once malware infects the system, it generally runs as soon as the ... Connecting to the Internet without a firewall ... that you know what "opening" a file can do in terms of risk. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: New report from Sophos - No danger! Genuine report!
    ... There is more evidence than ever before that a third motivation is driving cybercrime: using malware and the internet to gain commercial, political, economic and military advantage. ... As we enter 2010, it can be argued that there is more evidence than ever before that a third motivation is driving cybercrime: using malware and the internet to gain commercial, political, economic and military advantage over rivals. ...
    (alt.computer.security)
  • Re: Problems with page loading
    ... The C++ error may indicate malware infection, ... computer from the internet and/or any network to which it may be attached. ... Run HackerDefender Disabler. ... Check all 'startup' folders at ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser)
  • If you were too stupid to use anti-Malware screens before-you might want to reconsider
    ... Malware may knock thousands off Internet on Monday ... But tens of thousands of Americans may still lose their Internet service Monday unless they do a quick check of their computers for malware that could have taken over their machines more than a year ago. ... Of those still infected, the FBI believes that about 64,000 are in the United States. ... Users whose computers are still infected Monday will lose their ability to go online, and they will have to call their service providers for help deleting the malware and reconnecting to the Internet. ...
    (soc.retirement)