denisew
Community Expert
Posts: 9243
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
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04-25-12 11:26 AM - Post#148418
I saw this article in the DMN this week and wanted to share it with those at Allen Online:
"Got a PC? Better Read This"
"WASHINGTON - For computer users, a few mouse clicks could mean the difference
between staying online and losing Internet connections after early July.
The problem started when international hackers ran an online advertising scam to
take control of infected computers around the world. In a highly unusual move,
the FBI set up a safety net months ago using government computers to prevent
Internet disruptions for those infected users. But that system will be shut down
this summer.
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.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Hackers infected a network of probably more than 570,000 computers worldwide,
taking advantage of vulnerabilities in the Microsoft Windows operating system to
install malicious software. This turned off anti-virus updates and changed how
computers reconcile website addresses behind the scenes on the Internet's domain
name system.
WHAT IT MEANS:
The DNS is a network of servers that translates a web address into the numerical
addresses that computers use. Victim computers were reprogrammed to use rogue
DNS servers owned by the attackers, allowing them to redirect computers to
fraudulent websites. After July 9, infected users won't be able to connect to
the Internet.
FIXING YOUR PC:
The FBI recommends checking your computer by visiting http:/www.dcwg.org. Click
on "Detect" in the upper left corner, and you will be directed to a new page.
Pick your language from the list and click on the link next to it. If your
computer is not infected, you will see a green logo. If you see a message with a
red logo saying your computer appears to be infected, you will be directed to
websites that will provide anti-virus tools."
- The Associated Press
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mspam3
enthusiast
Posts: 2381
Loc: Allen TX
Reg: 03-10-07
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04-25-12 12:28 PM - Post#148423
In response to denisew
I read that too but didn't think about posting it here. Thanks Denise. We've checked all our computers and we are all ok. Hope you are too.
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denisew
Community Expert
Posts: 9243
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 02-18-02
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04-26-12 09:03 AM - Post#148460
In response to mspam3
Ours are all okay too.
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Don4
enthusiast
Posts: 523
Loc: Allen 1993
Reg: 04-11-06
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04-26-12 10:08 AM - Post#148463
In response to denisew
Going to a government website to check my computer for a virus... hmmmm.... there's got to be a conspiracy in there somehow. 
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asmile4u
enthusiast
Posts: 909
Loc: Allen
Reg: 04-20-08
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04-26-12 05:14 PM - Post#148481
In response to Don4
Going to a government website to check my computer for a virus... hmmmm.... there's got to be a conspiracy in there somehow.
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carygold
enthusiast
Posts: 5636
Loc: Allen Resident for 26 yea...
Reg: 05-30-08
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06-12-12 02:29 PM - Post#150071
In response to asmile4u
I'm sorry, who is DCWG and what are the selling?
This is exactly how a dishonest group of people takes over people's computer
NEVER, NEVER let a website checkout your computer, you don't know what they are installing, what they are copying or how they are using the information, nor do you know if you have the correct site. If I want your information I would open a website DWCG.org, rather than DCWG.org, transpose two letters and I'm in your machine with your permission.
I know this is all over the internet and in the news but still, I'm not going to any sight and let anyone, read anything on my computer.
A DNS server is the server that resolves the website name with an IP address. For Example www.yahoo.com has an IP of 209.191.122.070, which is what computers use to talk to each other.
Its easy to check your DNS IP address with the one(s) your Internet Service Provider is using.
Just use a good anti-virus, and keep it up to date and don't use Internet Explorer. For a web browser use FireFox or Chrome, or Safari for PC or Opera.
....Or buy a Macintosh.
| No matter how big and tough you think you are, when a toddler hands you their ringing toy phone... you answer it. |
Edited by carygold on 06-12-12 02:30 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Jeremy
enthusiast
Posts: 454
Loc: Allen, Tx
Reg: 06-20-11
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06-12-12 04:24 PM - Post#150073
In response to carygold
To ensure you are getting the best and most accurate information go to the FBI website. www.fbi.gov. It is still on their front page and it will explain everything you need to know. There is a link that will take you to http://www.dns-ok.us/ which is maintained by DCWG.org, DNSChanger Working Group, to check to ensure your PC is fine.
Besides Mac's being a terrible OS... they were also impacted, as was network equipment, so a Mac would not have saved you. It was Malware... not a virus.
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O. D. Caloney
member
Posts: 27
Reg: 10-27-11
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06-12-12 06:26 PM - Post#150076
In response to Jeremy
I've used this online site to scan my PC's for years
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
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carygold
enthusiast
Posts: 5636
Loc: Allen Resident for 26 yea...
Reg: 05-30-08
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06-13-12 08:19 AM - Post#150082
In response to O. D. Caloney
I'm sure DCWG.org is okay as is TrendMicro a well known company, but I see more cases were people are duped into going to a website for help only to get hacked or have their registry destroyed and their data lost, outside of using an expensive Hard Drive recovery.
If you're smart enough to know the difference your probably okay, but as a general rule I tell people do not use automatic scan's from the web.
As far as Macintosh computers go, they are fine machines, with a solid OS, as I have used both for 25 years and have made much more money from broken Windows computers. Also, a Macintosh computer is not affected by the same Malware that infects a Windows computer that is just a fact. Writing code to hack a Macintosh OS to change the DNS IP is more difficult on a Macintosh computer and most hackers don't want to spend the time.
My point here is to keep people from running to websites at every news article, you don't really know what they are doing. Even it they are working with the FBI.
| No matter how big and tough you think you are, when a toddler hands you their ringing toy phone... you answer it. |
Edited by carygold on 06-13-12 08:19 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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carygold
enthusiast
Posts: 5636
Loc: Allen Resident for 26 yea...
Reg: 05-30-08
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08-01-12 11:09 AM - Post#151970
In response to carygold
This is not a reflection on the OP, the warnings were everywhere, CNN, the computer blogs, as well as the morning news, I'm sure the poster was just trying to help her neighbors.
However, the fact nothing happened made me wonder. When there are claims that the world is coming to an end, so to speak, and it doesn't happen, do people become more skeptical or do they just wait for someone to announce the date of the next big catastrophe?
The Y2K scare had people praying in the new year 2000, buying dry food, water, moving out of the city, all thinking it was time for the return of the messiah, or the end of civilization as we know it.
I think we fear that this time... it might be "the one," the time when the world really does fall apart.
I just get more skeptical about it all, lots of people made lots of money in Y2K scare, including me.
| No matter how big and tough you think you are, when a toddler hands you their ringing toy phone... you answer it. |
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