First you need to know the difference between a Virus and a Worm(Wikipedia Links). The effects of the viruses and worms can be measured in only thousands of computer networks failing and propagating, in return and the billions of dollars lost when the servers come down to their knees by opening up all the vital and secure information pertaining to millions of individuals around the world.
The origin of the Conficker worm is considered to be China where the control centers of spy networks which are propagating this worm are officially dubbed as GhostNet. The origin has been traced back to its birth place by the Vietnamese security research firm BKIS as China because of the close resemblance of the earlier created and very notorious virus called Nimda which broke down networks by communicating itself over the internet and e-mail way back in 2001. Well, this is not backed up by any evidence stating firmly that it is correct, but the signatures in the code do reflect the origin to be China and the BKIS have released a free antivirus to protect yourself and your networks against Conficker.
You can watch the video by CBS which states the origin of viruses and worms which enable the hackers to steal sensitive information. I insist you to WATCH THE VIDEO as the narrator demonstrates how the virus really sees the secure information while you are typing in the credentials for your online bank or mail accounts. Creepy? Yeah, it is VERY CREEPY.
The viruses do not always mean to steal the information, rather, they are often created to judge the supremacy of one “cyber gang” over another. No matter, who ever wins the heated competition, in the middle, the losers are Networks.
Now, there are numerous free tools which are suggested to be run when you are sure that your network is affected by Conficker Worm. The effects of this worm are still…..UNKNOWN. Yes, the hordes of teams who work on providing security to the networks are just perplexed over what the disastrous effects of this worm are. It is because, the worm is supposed to be triggered on April 1st, 2009. A Fool’s Day indeed. The worm is sitting in the networks waiting for the instructions over what to do next after propagating itself and securely sitting there cozily.
The hardwork of Dan Kaminsky and Rich Mogull, the German researchers who have successfully detected and patched up the networks by containing the Conficker Worm, has paid off and they offer various methodologies using which you can block off the virus altogether and prevent it from spreading, that is, you can instantly quarantine the virus. The white paper duly summons the procedures taken by the multiple variants of the Conficker worm to spread itself and provides bunch of tools which enable you to take control, rather than the worm.
Phew! We need to always be on the heels when we login. No place is safe now-a-days.
Do share with us if you have faced any recent threats by the Viruses and How you backlashed on them?
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Hi,
Good article. Sophos’ Conficker removal tool can detect and remove all variants of the worm/virus.
As long as people run these tools it should stop any serious outbreak.
James
Great write up. I fear that with the April Fools day target date that many people with consider this a hoax. Truth be known that Conficker is a growing trojan that began with Conficker-a and now has evolved to conficker-c. Microsoft reported that they first discovered the trojan in November 2008. For all windows based PCs make sure you run a full windows update and combined with a leading anti-virus you should be well protected. http://confickerinfo.com
only a little while now until Conficker is supposed to take effect… hopefully people have already found whatever fixes they needed to find
Actually NMAP have a feature to detect conficker infected PC
Thanks for the information Vinoth.
I will make a post about this even though most of the people affected by Conficker would have got thru the issue by far.