The April 1st Virus ain't no joke.

[Moonliner]

On Wednesday April 1st the Conflicker worm is set to come to life. No one but it's createor(s) is sure what it will do. Possibilities range from not much of anything to deleting every file on your PC.

Article about the worm (http://i.gizmodo.com/5183751/giz-explains-how-a-brainy-worm-might-jack-the-worlds-pcs-on-april-1)


The C release came out this past month. It doesn't go after new machines—it's actually a payload for computers already infected with B. It transformed Conficker from a sneezing pandemic into a seriously nasty plague. With C, its p2p powers are extended further, with digital code-signing, so it only accepts trusted code updates from itself. That means security experts can't simply inject code to neutralize it. The patch also made Conficker better at killing security software. And it expanded the scope of the domains it tries to contact for instructions from 250 to 50,000, completely neutralizing security experts' previous tactic of seizing the domains. There's effectively no way to the cut the head off of this demon snake. The stage is set: On April 1, Conficker will reach out for the millions-strong zombienet's next set of instructions.



Prior to the 1st, you should run Microsoft update to get your PC's patched, update your Anti-virus software and run a full scan.



You might also want to run the free Symantec tool (http://www.symantec.com/business/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2009-011316-0247-99)to detect and remove the worm

[Kevy Baby]

Or just keep using my Mac and not worry about a thing...

[BarTopDancer]

Or just keep using my Mac and not worry about a thing...

The number of Mac users is growing and one day there is going to be a virus for the Mac. How many users will be prepared? That virus writer is going to get more publicity then any virus writer for a PC. After all, they are the first to bring down the Mac user....

[Not Afraid]

Until that happens, I will be happy I have a Mac.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I've had a PC for 11 years and have never once been affected by any of these supposed killer worms/viruses.

[wendybeth]

The very first virus (http://www.webmonkey.com/blog/The_25th_Anniversary_Of_The_Computer_Virus) was written for an Apple. Macs are not immune, but so far the viruses have been relatively benign. Looking around, it would appear that antiviral software for the Mac can be a PITA to install, so I'm guessing there are a lot of Mac users that don't bother with it, thinking they are safe. BTD is right- when it does hit, it will hit hard.

[RStar]

I've had a PC for 11 years and have never once been affected by any of these supposed killer worms/viruses.

Same here.

With the exception of that time I picked up something I picked up from a website that highjacked my browser, which was an easy fix and didn't delete or damage anything. Damn porn sites! ;)

[Prudence]

We (and by "we" I mean the Rat) just finished wiping clean my laptop and reinstalling the operating system and all. (Delayed maintenance - it picked up bugs [or was deliberately infected] when the ex took it and I just made sure never to do anything important on it, but eventually it got too bad and became a glorified paperweight so I let the Rat work on it.) So right now my laptop is squeaky clean and I intend to keep it that way.

[Moonliner]

I've had a PC for 11 years and have never once been affected by any of these supposed killer worms/viruses.

Do you regularly run windows update? How about an anti-virus program? Spam filter? Do you use caution when opening attachments? Pay attention to what websites you visit and the links you click on?

Are you saying that there really is not a problem with worms/virus or that you've never been affected by one because you take active measures to protect yourself?

[innerSpaceman]

Anti-virus programs messed up my computer majorly. I mean MAJORLY. so i don't use any. I keep up with all Microsoft updates, tho.

[Snowflake]

I use AVG have an active firewall and do windows updates. So far, so good.
I've had the ocassional person post that when they hit my website they get a warning about a trojan, but Valentino never used condoms.

[Alex]

I pretty much do nothing. I haven't had anti-virus software in a very long time. I had free AVG for a while but then it caused problems with something or another and I took it off.

I am reasonably good about lettings Windows Update run on the current machine but never did even once on my previous one.

In all my years I've contracted a virus just once and that was extreme user stupidity in that I ran an exe I knew was infected because I was working too fast and clicked on the wrong file.

But then, if Lani didn't make me I probably wouldn't have non-catastrophic health insurance either.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Do you regularly run windows update? How about an anti-virus program? Spam filter? Do you use caution when opening attachments? Pay attention to what websites you visit and the links you click on?

Are you saying that there really is not a problem with worms/virus or that you've never been affected by one because you take active measures to protect yourself?
I don't consider letting Windows run updates, having AVG, and not being dumb enough to click on obvious spam "active measures". I set up anti-virus once, I set up Windows to update automatically once. Other than that, I do nothing special to prevent viruses.

[Kevy Baby]

I've had a PC for 11 years and have never once been affected by any of these supposed killer worms/viruses.Unfortunately, we have a couple people here in our small office that are not as careful in their web surfing habits. I actually had somebody open an attachment in an email from someone they didn't know. We had one computer get infected bad enough that the ONLY solution was to reinitialize the drive.

:mad:

The number of Mac users is growing and one day there is going to be a virus for the Mac. How many users will be prepared? That virus writer is going to get more publicity then any virus writer for a PC. After all, they are the first to bring down the Mac user....True in theory, but Apple is still lagging well under 10% market share. However, those with a malicious hacker mentality still reside almost exclusively in the Wintel world and would have to learn a new OS.

Were not immune, but the law of averages is still very much on our side.

[Moonliner]

I don't consider letting Windows run updates, having AVG, and not being dumb enough to click on obvious spam "active measures". I set up anti-virus once, I set up Windows to update automatically once. Other than that, I do nothing special to prevent viruses.

Semantics.

All I'm saying is people need to pay attention to keeping their PC's safe in general and if they are behind the curve in doing so now would be a real good time to bring things up to date.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Agreed. And I'm just saying that the "Boy I'm glad I got a Mac" contingent is mistaken in the thought that it's some massive chore to keep from getting a virus.

[Kevy Baby]

And I'm just saying that the "Boy I'm glad I got a Mac" contingent is mistaken in the thought that it's some massive chore to keep from getting a virus.Have you heard that before from the Mac Contingent ™?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Have you heard that before from the Mac Contingent ™?

Or just keep using my Mac and not worry about a thing...

That implies that owning a PC requires worry. I don't worry about it.

[Kevy Baby]

That implies that owning a PC requires worry. I don't worry about it.You already made more effort than I did to prevent viruses. Therefor, you DO worry more than I do.

And nowhere in my statement (nor anywhere else I have seen) did I imply it was a "massive chore."

[Ghoulish Delight]

I "worry" about it no more than I "worry" about a power surge blowing up the computer. I take the necessary precautions, voila. It's a miniscule effort and not a reason to switch to Mac.

We get it. You like your Mac. I like Macs too. But holy hell am I BEYOND tired of "That's why I have a Mac" posts.

[Kevy Baby]

Holy hell am I BEYOND tired of "another PC virus" posts.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Hmm, one alerts people to something they might not know about.

The other is something we've heard hundreds of times and imparts absolutely no useful information.

[JWBear]

I had a friend who, when someone was going on-and-on about how "superior" Macs are, would look at them and say "I'm so glad you found religion".

[Alex]

You already made more effort than I did to prevent viruses. Therefor, you DO worry more than I do.

I don't worry at all and take no active measures (whatever windows updating happens, happens automatically if I had to actively do it I wouldn't).

Do I win? Because all the Macs I've ever lived with were lemons.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

We get it. You like your Mac. I like Macs too. But holy hell am I BEYOND tired of "That's why I have a Mac" posts.Seriously. Every time someone posts anything about their PC, a Mac person has to post something contentious. :rolleyes: Over it.

Holy hell am I BEYOND tired of "another PC virus" posts.Who forced you to open the thread? Or respond? Not everything posted here has to qualify as a Kevy Thread. I have threads that I don't read or respond to.

I've been restraining myself in this department but it's really, really annoying that every time we try to mention something in computers it immediately degrades into the most beaten dead horse of all.

[Kevy Baby]

The funny part about this pissing match is that my initial response was in fun. Yeah, its been repeated a lot. Get over it. I do that a lot because I am stupid and uncreative. But mainly (in this case) because it was Moonliner.

But I am me and if you don't like my posts, then I encourage you to put me on ignore. Or if it is deemed that I am not a valid member of this community, then the owners of this board can ask me to leave and I will

I can't believe how personal and petty the attacks have become here. I came in here because I DID want to know about this virus (see my post earlier where I acknowledged that I HAVE had to deal with viruses here at work). But I had a little fun along the way. Sorry for being me.

[innerSpaceman]

Am I the ONLY one who thought the Mac lines were funny this time? Yes, they've become a trope. Hence, now they have crossed the line from annoying into humor.

If you didn't get the memo, please be now advised.


So everybody take a deep breath.



Hello, World .... this is Kevy, Kevy this is World. It's KEVY!!!! Um, pulease.

[innerSpaceman]

May I add ...


OMG, now I'm defending Kevy.




Sigh.

[Kevy Baby]

OMG, now I'm defending Kevy.I love you man.






:sniff:

[Gemini Cricket]

Well, I'm perfectly happy with my Commodore 64.
No viruses. No internet. No nothing!
A game of Kung-Fu Master, anyone?

[CoasterMatt]

The DRM of iTunes is worse than any virus, and it's users gladly click "accept" for the terms and agreements.