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Virus questions (in light of the Conficker virus)

Discussion in 'Community Broadband & Computers' started by luftinarr, Mar 31, 2009.

  1. luftinarr

    luftinarr Member

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    How does someone create a virus that will create such havoc? I just don't understand how that whole thing works. It's way over my head.

    And is this something that someone somewhere can track and try to arrest the virus maker (what lingo is used to define someone who writes virus codes?)? Are the laws against creating such evil things? Surely there must be.

    I do have to laugh at the people who think by not turning on their computers tomorrow it will avoid the virus altogether. :huh:
     
  2. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    my money sez that the guys who DO create them eventually end up in high paying government jobs or working for steve jobs or bill gates, where they catch guys as diabolical and antisocial as themselves... after a short stint in prison, of course.
     
  3. Audrey

    Audrey Member

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    soooo, is this a hoax or are my computers going to blow up? I did not do anything about the virus rumor, which I only heard about yesterday evening.
     
  4. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    My husband ran a virus scan directly from the Microsoft site to look for it, so I guess Microsoft is taking it seriously enough to offer a scan.
     
  5. Kaosdad

    Kaosdad Will work for Rum

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    No, folks, this is not a hoax. Malware (which covers all sorts of byte based beasties) is very, very real and conflicker appears to be a baddie. However, if you are practicing safe surfing, you're probably OK. Get all of your Micro$fot updates, manually update your AV software and don't open any e-mail you are suspicious of!
     
  6. teak

    teak New Member

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    Buy an Amiga. Can't pwn me 68040 and thy AmigaDos.

    -ub3rh4x0r
     
  7. merky1

    merky1 Member

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    There were tons of Amiga viruses back in the day. I guess since everyone was dialing up BBS's, no one got around to building one that replicates like the modern nasties.
     
  8. Grasor

    Grasor New Member

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    A virus is a program that shares a lot of the same qualities of a biological virus. Meaning that they are generally small in size, replicate quickly, and are hard to get rid of.

    The conficker virus as I understand it was developed by some folks in the Eastern Block. It was built to take advantage of a Microsoft Windows vulnerability that was patched (patches are "fixes" that need to be downloaded). Since most people don't keep their computers up-to-date, criminals will develope the virus anyway.

    It was likely spread in an Airport by someone logged on to the Airport's wireless network. Other computers that were connected to that network which did not possess all the Windows updates were subsequently infected. These people then took their laptops to another part of the world, logged onto another network, and the virus again copied itself to the computers. The process repeated in perpetuity.

    Most viruses cause immediate harm. They can be made to delete files and render a computer unuseable or do annoying things like close the program you have open whenever you hit the SPACEBAR.

    Viruses also have other names such as Ad-ware, Mal-ware, Spy-ware, etc. You may have already fallen victim to these as they often show up on your computer one day imitating a Virus Scanner which appears to be scanning your computer for threats. It always finds some and then tells you that if you want to remove them you have to buy the program. The unwitting user then gives away credit card information to someone and ends up with two things. 1) A bogus virus scanner. 2) A yacht they will never see.

    The two things you need to do to protect yourself is have a fully updated Virus Scanner (I use Norton 360 but AVG is also good). And update Microsoft Windows.

    You can update Windows through your Internet Explorer browser by clicking Tools -> Windows Update and following the instructions.

    Hope that helps!
     
  9. Twriter

    Twriter Get a Mac!

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    And if you can't successfully complete Windows Update and can't access the Microsoft web site, it is a sign that you may have the Conficker virus. One of its tricks is to prevent you from updating or accessing any security-oriented web site. It is a clever virus.

    For a detailed analysis of what Conficker is and what it does, listen to Episode 193 of the Security Now! podcast. Available through iTunes and from:
    http://www.grc.com/securitynow.htm
    The grc website also has transcripts for those who prefer to read than listen.

    --- John B.
     

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