Malware may knock thousands off Internet on Monday

[Claire Diviner]

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20120705/US.Internet.Woes/?cid=hero_media

WASHINGTON — Despite repeated alerts, 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.

The warnings about the Internet problem have been splashed across Facebook and Google. Internet service providers have sent notices, and the FBI set up a special website.

According to the FBI, the number of computers that probably are infected is more than 277,000 worldwide, down from about 360,000 in April. Of those still infected, the FBI believes that about 64,000 are in the United States.

People 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.

The problem began when international hackers ran an online advertising scam to take control of more than 570,000 infected computers around the world. When the FBI went in to take down the hackers late last year, agents realized that if they turned off the malicious servers being used to control the computers, all the victims would lose their Internet service.

In a highly unusual move, the FBI set up a safety net. They brought in a private company to install two clean Internet servers to take over for the malicious servers so that people would not suddenly lose their Internet.

And while it was the first time they'd done something like that, FBI officials acknowledged that it may not be the last since authorities are taking on more of these types of investigations.

The temporary Internet system they set up, however, will be shut down at 12:01 a.m. EDT Monday, July 9.

Most victims don't even know their computers have been infected, although the malicious software probably has slowed their Web surfing and disabled their antivirus software, making their machines more vulnerable to other problems.

But popular social networking sites and Internet providers have gotten more involved, reaching out to computer users to warn of the problem.

According to Tom Grasso, an FBI supervisory special agent, many Internet providers are ready for the problem and have plans to try to help their customers. Some, such as Comcast, already have reached out.

The company sent out notices and posted information on its website. Because the company can tell whether there is a problem with a customer's Internet server, Comcast sent an email, letter or Internet notice to customers whose computers appeared to be affected.

Grasso said other Internet providers may come up with technical solutions that they will put in place Monday that will either correct the problem or provide information to customers when they call to say their Internet isn't working. If the Internet providers correct the server problem, the Internet will work, but the malware will remain on victims' computers and could pose future problems.

In addition to individual computer owners, about 50 Fortune 500 companies are still infected, Grasso said.

Both Facebook and Google created their own warning messages that showed up if someone using either site appeared to have an infected computer. Facebook users would get a message that says, "Your computer or network might be infected," along with a link that users can click for more information.

Google users got a similar message, displayed at the top of a Google search results page. It also provides information on correcting the problem.

To check whether a computer is infected, users can visit a website run by the group brought in by the FBI: http://www.dcwg.org.

The site includes links to respected commercial sites that will run a quick check on the computer, and it also lays out detailed instructions if users want to actually check the computer themselves.

___

Online:

To check and clean computers: http://www.dcwg.org

Comcast Warning: http://forums.comcast.com/t5/Security-and-Anti-Virus/DNS-Changer-Bot-FAQ/td-p/1215341

Google: http://googleonlinesecurity.blogspot.com/2012/05/notifying-users-affected-by-dnschanger.html

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/notes/facebook-security/notifying-dnschanger-victims/10150833689760766

Thankfully, I'm not infected. Not that I would be, seeing as I don't really go anywhere online other than here or Youtube, but still.

 

[PsychoIncarnate]

Ya sure it's not just THAT website spreading the Malware?

Why would the FBI be using a .org website anyway?

 

[Claire Diviner]

Ya sure it's not just THAT website spreading the Malware?

Why would the FBI be using a .org website anyway?

Hell, if I know. It was in a news article provided by my cable/internet provider, so I took it at face value. If this news doesn't affect you, then count yourself golden. I'd say "lucky", but I imagine one would have to willingly visit some kind of dubious site to become infected or something.

 

[Master Xanthan]

Interesting......unfortunately idk how to check to see if I have it. What kinds of sites could you get malware like this from anyway?

 

[PsychoIncarnate]

Interesting......unfortunately idk how to check to see if I have it. What kinds of sites could you get malware like this from anyway?

Porn sites, untrustworthy downloads, ROM sites, scam emails, phishers, Advertisements (even from trustworthy sites sometimes), wikis (ANY site where the general public have access to editing), etc.

 

[Claire Diviner]

Interesting......unfortunately idk how to check to see if I have it. What kinds of sites could you get malware like this from anyway?

What PsychoIncarnate said. Generally websites you [normally] shouldn't be visiting or places you'd be ashamed of if people found out you visit them, or so I hear. There's a link in the article somewhere that allows you to check; no downlaods or installations needed.

 

[Master Xanthan]

What PsychoIncarnate said. Generally websites you [normally] shouldn't be visiting or places you'd be ashamed of if people found out you visit them, or so I hear. There's a link in the article somewhere that allows you to check; no downlaods or installations needed.

For the site that checks, it says the site was ran by the group that the FBI brought in, so wouldn't that not be trustworthy?

 

[Claire Diviner]

Well, yeah. I mean dubious sites, usually like the ones Psycho mentioned. I know I checked my computer using the link, and it says I was fine (a green image indicates you're safe, while a red image indicates an infection). In retrospect, considering I don't do much online, I probably didn't need to check my status, but it doesn't hurt to be safe, I guess.

 

[Master Xanthan]

Well, I have Microsoft Security Essentials, and it never detected anything so I'm going to assume I'm fine for now. If something happens on Monday I guess I'll just deal with it then.

 

[Claire Diviner]

Yeah, as long as you're not the type that visits random dubious sites or willingly click links in suspicious emails, then you shouldn't have to worry.

 

[PsychoIncarnate]

Yeah, as long as you're not the type that visits random dubious sites or willingly click links in suspicious emails, then you shouldn't have to worry.

I may or may not visit dubious sites, but I have a malware detecting program and an antivirus. Neither have detected anything

 

[theeboredone]

Good thing I use a macbook

But in all seriousness, I don't understand what these hackers' agenda was. Just to piss off people?

I'm sort of hesitant to check that site, but given it's an article through comcast, that has been helping others with this problem, it is probably safe.

 

[Master Xanthan]

Good thing I use a macbook

But in all seriousness, I don't understand what these hackers' agenda was. Just to piss off people?

I'm sort of hesitant to check that site, but given it's an article through comcast, that has been helping others with this problem, it is probably safe.

Idk, comcast may have made a mistake. I mean the article said the site was made by the hacker group that the FBI arrested, honestly I wouldn't go to that site, seems risky.

 

[Morin0]

I went on the site. I wasn't asked to download anything just visit one of the many mirror sites they have and they all said I was clean. I'm running MSE, Malwarebytes and Spybot S&D. None of them alerted me when I visited these sites.

 

[rinisan]

Damn! My computer has no firewall at all! What should I do?!

 

[Master Xanthan]

Damn! My computer has no firewall at all! What should I do?!

Get a firewall and microsoft security essentials.

 

[Shorts]

What PsychoIncarnate said. Generally websites you [normally] shouldn't be visiting or places you'd be ashamed of if people found out you visit them, or so I hear. There's a link in the article somewhere that allows you to check; no downlaods or installations needed.

I love porn sites and visit them regularly. No shame in watching porn.

As for the topic, good to know. I'll scan as much as I can.

 

[rinisan]

Anyone knows any free firewall and anti virus software that are good?

 

[Claire Diviner]

As far as free anti-virus and firewall programs go, I guess you can get Norton anti-virus if you have Comcast. I have Comcast myself, but I never got the Norton seeing as I already have a more superior anti-everything program. Although, seeing as your last post was yesterday, it's safe to say you're alright as far as that malware thing is concerned.

 

[Isatis]

I don't really recommend Norton Anti-Virus, as unless things have changed, you need something to update every single day because new viruses and malware are released to the world every day. I've had Avast for years and not a single problem. AVG is also good but that lagged my comp for a bit.

 

[UltiMario]

I just use Microsoft Security Essentials, and I've had all of 1 Virus since I've installed it that required another program to fix. Probably been a year and a half I've been using it.
Honestly, use anything BUT Norton, IMO.

 

[jackanderson]

Spam Bo t.