Conficker Worm - No April Fool!

A computer virus that's affecting Windows users worldwide is no joke. What's being referred to as the 'April Fool's' virus - or the Conficker Worm - has already infected anywhere from five to twelve million computers just in the U.S. No one knows exactly what this virus is meant to do, but sources say it's set to 'go off' on April 1-st.

"The first thing it does, when it gets on your computer is to disable any anti-virus software that your running, it will disable the ability to download patches from Microsoft." says Dr. Phillip Dickens, a computer science professor at UMaine.

So if your computer is running slower than normal, and you haven't received patches or updates you usually get, you may have the virus. It only infects computers that use Windows, and it works in two stages. First, Strain B of the virus infects the P.C. and disables security. "Making way for Conficker C, which comes in and just embeds itself in your hard drive somewhere and doesn't do anything until April first." Says Dickens.

If you have the MOST up-to-date version of your anti-virus software, it will protect you from Conficker. But If your P.C. already has the virus, you can get information, and download patches and software to fix it off of Microsoft's website. But experts say this virus is very difficult to get rid of, and it could even block you from visiting anti-virus sites. So, if you're not super tech savvy, your best bet may be to bring it to a professional.

The experts have some tips on keeping your computer safe from viruses like Conficker. 1.) Keep your anti-virus software up-to-date. 2.) Keep your Windows up-dates and patches up-to-date. 3.) Keep your firewall on. 4.) Use more complex passwords. 5.) Don't open emails or attachments from unfamiliar addresses

Beware Conficker Worm come April 1.

In an event that hits the computer world only once every few years, security experts are racing against time to mitigate the impact of a bit of malware which is set to wreak havoc on a hard-coded date. As is often the case, that date is April 1.

Malware creators love to target April Fool's Day with their wares, and the latest worm, called Conficker C, could be one of the most damaging attacks we've seen in years.

Conficker first bubbled up in late 2008 and began making headlines in January as known infections topped 9 million computers. Now in its third variant, Conficker C, the worm has grown incredibly complicated, powerful, and virulent... though no one is quite sure exactly what it will do when D-Day arrives.

Conficker is clever in the way it hides its tracks because it uses an enormous number of URLs to communicate with HQ. The first version of Conficker used just 250 addresses each day -- which security researchers and ICANN simply bought and/or disabled -- but Conficker C will up the ante to 50,000 addresses a day when it goes active, a number which simply can't be tracked and disabled by hand.

At this point, you should be extra vigilant about protecting your PC: Patch Windows completely through Windows Update and update your anti-malware software as well. Make sure your antivirus software is actually running too, as Conficker may have disabled it.

Microsoft also offers a free online safety scan here, which should be able to detect all Conficker versions.

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