Author Topic: Millions of infected M$ PCs face doomsday on April 1 (Read 2879 times)

Texas Mac Man · « **on:** March 24, 2009, 01:43:34 PM »

No joke in April Fool's Day computer worm

Mac OS is unaffected, however, if you have an Intel Mac with Windows installed - watch out.

Highmac · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2009, 08:13:03 AM »

Passed this on to our IT guru, although I assumed he already knew about it. Response:

QUOTE

The virus is a real one - we have been infected here with it on several servers.
Not sure about the April fool's day part though - but I guess we'll find out soon!

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #2 on:** March 25, 2009, 11:26:51 AM »

Got a forwarded "VIRUS ALERT!!" email the other day from a Windows using friend (of course). It wasn't referring to this virus, but I wrote back saying the one he was worried about would never be able to "burn a hole in your hard drive," even when using Windows (I think the "author" was just a little confused about optical drives and hard drives...). I also told him I don't worry about Windows virus' at all, since I use OS X. He replied, of course, that he wouldn't have the "patience" to learn a new system.

I told him that not having to deal with virus' is just the tip of the iceberg. He would also have trouble learning that after using any one app he would then know where to find practically all the same functions in any other app. Or that "drag 'n drop" worked all the time. Same with "copy 'n paste." Even when the apps weren't created by the same company! And he'd probably take some time to get used to installing most peripherals without having to install drivers, also, while the Mac would immediately recognize the new device and offer help with using it. I told him that it also takes a lot of patience when one trades in the old '51 Ford for a BMW, but that most folks seem more than satisfied once they do it!

sandbox · « **Reply #3 on:** March 25, 2009, 11:27:30 AM »

It's been around for a while. A friend caught the "B" version.
http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2009/...-activation.ars

QUOTE

Conficker.C primed for April Fool's activation

Conficker has caused trouble for months since it appeared in late 2008, and a new variation of the worm is set to launch again in just over two weeks. The new "C" variant will be significantly harder for the security community to track, and could cause headaches for infected users as it's much more difficult to remove.

QUOTE

Conficker aka Downadup

January 29th, 2009 Posted by - webmaster

Some of you may have heard of a current major outbreak of a virus known as Downadup that has been reported at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7842013.stm and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7832652.stm. It has been estimated that move than 9 million PCs are infected across the world.

ClamAV detects Downadup, also known as Conficker, as Worm.Downadup. Once on a system it downloads components that ClamAV detects as members of the Trojan.Downloader- family of signatures.

The virus primarily exploits MS08-067; it can also spread through USB sticks. Since the virus is not spread by email we don’t expect to see much activity in our core user-base, which tends to use ClamAV to scan emails. We are, nevertheless, keeping an eye out for it through freshclam’s statistics gathering system – we are yet to see any obvious spike of activity from it. If we hear anything we’ll let you know.
http://www.clamav.net/

Texas Mac Man · « **Reply #4 on:** March 29, 2009, 07:43:25 PM »

There was a feature story about this worm virus on tonight's CBS 60 Minutes show. It's known that the virus will receive instructions on 1 April, but what's not known is if it will be unleashed to steal data on infected computers.

The CBS computer network was infected with the virus, but it was removed. CBS should get Macs.

Mayo · « **Reply #5 on:** March 29, 2009, 10:50:09 PM »

Of course there was no reference to Macs not being susceptible to the virus... I was waiting for it but it never came up.

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2009, 02:22:37 PM »

What is a "Macs?" Is that supposed to be some kind of computer? And it doesn't use Windows?! Surely you jest! CBS would never bring a hoax like that to the screen!

kbeartx · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2009, 02:54:14 PM »

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Mar 30 2009, 02:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What is a "Macs?"

And what's with that spelling??

Why not "Macks" or "Max"?

KB

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2009, 06:13:35 PM »

You really need to add "spelchequer" to your list of descriptors!

kcourt · « **Reply #9 on:** March 31, 2009, 09:54:22 AM »

I have received many E-mails from my friends about this April 1 worm. I reply - "buy a Mac".

Kathy

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #10 on:** March 31, 2009, 02:52:14 PM »

Obviously, any Mac running Windows, in any manner, can be affected by this and many other Windows malware. So just "buying a Mac" may not help. Some are saying that some forms of virtualization make it possible for this worm (and maybe others) to affect the Mac side of things unless certain methods of partitioning are used. And since it's already April 1st in some parts of the world, we should be getting some feedback on the consequences, if any, of this thing.

Jack W · « **Reply #11 on:** March 31, 2009, 07:26:21 PM »

I am going out on a limb.

I think "April Fool!" is going to pop up on a whole gaggle of computer screens tomorrow.

Maybe even on Macs.

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #12 on:** April 13, 2009, 09:42:41 PM »

Finally, a National news source mentions Macs not affected! Wow!

<University of Utah gets hit hard by Conflicker worm>

kcourt · « **Reply #13 on:** April 13, 2009, 10:44:27 PM »

If you didn't read to the end, you would not have seen it.

Kathy

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #14 on:** April 14, 2009, 11:18:55 AM »

QUOTE

If you didn't read to the end

True, but I don't remember ever seeing that statement in any National wire story before. An editorial slip?

News:

Author Topic: Millions of infected M$ PCs face doomsday on April 1 (Read 2879 times)