Hi All,
I felt that this was important enough to send an announcment about it on the Forum.
The Conficker Worm, which first surfaced in October, 2008, is scheduled to change it's tactics on April Fools Day this year. That's in 2 days. It targets Microsoft Windows operating systems. The worm exploits a previously patched vulnerability in the Windows Server service used by Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 Beta, and Windows Server 2008 R2 Beta. The worm has been unusually difficult for network operators and law enforcement to counter because of its combined use of advanced malware techniques.
If you haven't downloaded and installed your updates from Microsoft and updated your antivirus software lately, you should do this immediately. For the most part, doing this will protect you and your computer. It does not affect Apple or Linus operating systems.
For more info, check out this page on Wikipedia ---> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conficker
A Google search will give you a lot of information about it. Just click Here ---> Let me also Google that for you!!! (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=conficker+worm)
Today, about an hour ago, the Department of Homeland Security released a security tool for use by the Federal, State, and Local Governments in the US to detect the worm ---> http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1238443907751.shtm
More information ...
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/27/60minutes/main4897053.shtml?source=search_story
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/27/ap/hightech/main4898795.shtml?source=search_story
Win32/Conficker.A was reported to Microsoft on November 21, 2008.
Win32/Conficker.B was reported to Microsoft on December 29, 2008.
Win32/Conficker.C was reported to Microsoft on February 20, 2009.
Win32/Conficker.D was reported to Microsoft on March 4, 2009.
Security Alerts from Microsoft ...
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/worms/conficker.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/Entry.aspx?Name=Worm:Win32/Conficker.A
http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/Entry.aspx?Name=Worm:Win32/Conficker.B
http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/Entry.aspx?Name=Worm:Win32/Conficker.C
http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/Entry.aspx?Name=Worm:Win32/Conficker.D
Information from Symantic ...
http://www.symantec.com/norton/theme.jsp?themeid=conficker_worm&inid=us_ghp_link_conficker_worm
Could it be the world's largest April Fool's Day Joke ever? --> http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/the-conficker-worm-april-fools-joke-or-unthinkable-disaster/?ref=technology
Though most computers should already be protected, free tools are available from all or most of the Antivirus Software publishers to detect and eradicate the worm. Better to be safe than sorry.
ZarPrime
Just a note for something that assisted me after I found an unruly and persistent adware install (not Conficker) that two other reputable and updated products could not remove.
Spyware Terminator (www.spywareterminator.com) fixed the problem, and it is free. I actually downloaded it from snapfiles.com in the free adware/spyware section. After several days of use, it works (for my needs) though I didn't install all of the options it has.
It lists Conficker (aka DownAdUp, networm.kido, and other variants) in its list of threats that it can protect against.
If you suspect that you're infected with Conficker (Kido, Downup, Downadup) visit this page for simple infection test and recommended Removal Tools ;) :
http://scforum.info/index.php/topic,2577.0.html (http://scforum.info/index.php/topic,2577.0.html)
P.S.
Hope you'll find this post useful since Spamming isn't my Sport... :)