Conficker update @ AskWoody

Conficker update

Posted on January 29, 2009 at 09:09 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

A week ago, my Top Story in Windows Secrets Newsletter discussed what was known about the Conficker worm, how to protect your PC, and how to get disinfected. (Some vendors call the Conficker worm “Downadup” but they’re just two different names for the same thing.)

Much has happened since then. If you’re concerned about Conficker – and with many millions, if not tens of millions, infected, you should be – here’s what researchers have learned, and what you need to know.

CERT issued a Technical Cyber Security Alert that contradicts Microsoft’s advice about disabling Autorun. Since Conficker seems to be spreading rapidly via infected USB drives, and even camera memory cards, it would be well to heed CERT’s advice.

Eric Chien at Symantec has posted a series of blogs with many details about the worm. In order:

Downadup Statistics

Downadup Peer to Peer Payload Distribution

Downadup: A Lock with No Key

Downadup: Small Improvements Yield Big Returns

Downadup: Attempts at Smart Network Scanning

Downadup: Playing with Universal Plug and Play

SANS Internet Storm Center reports that Conficker has successfully infected Windows Embedded machines.

And lest you think some of the press is losing its perspective, drop by Rob Rosenberger’s Vmyths site for a hilarious, dead-on look at truth and fiction in the Conficker/Downadup milieu. Good on ya, Rob.

Windows Patches/Security

Plus Membership

Donations from Plus members keep this site going. You can identify the people who support AskWoody by the Plus badge on their avatars.

AskWoody Plus members not only get access to all of the contents of this site -- including Susan Bradley's frequently updated Patch Watch listing -- they also receive weekly AskWoody Plus Newsletters (formerly Windows Secrets Newsletter) and AskWoody Plus Alerts, emails when there are important breaking developments.

Welcome to our unique respite from the madness.

It's easy to post questions about Windows 11, Windows 10, Win8.1, Win7, Surface, Office, or browse through our Forums. Post anonymously or register for greater privileges. Keep it civil, please: Decorous Lounge rules strictly enforced. Questions? Contact Customer Support.

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30

Conficker update

Plus Membership

Search Newsletters

Search Forums

View the Forum

Search for Topics

Recent Topics

Recent blog posts

My Profile

Key Links

Remembering Woody

Conficker update

Plus Membership

Search Newsletters

Search Forums

View the Forum

Search for Topics

Recent Topics

Recent blog posts

My Profile

Login and Registration

Key Links

Remembering Woody