Hundreds of thousands may lose Internet in July

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the impending Internet disruption affecting hundreds of thousands of users due to malware infections, specifically linked to an international advertising scam. The FBI has set up a temporary safety net to assist infected users, which will be deactivated after July 9. Users are urged to visit dcwg.org to check for infections and receive guidance on remediation. Many users remain unaware of their infections, which may have already compromised their Internet performance and security.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of malware types and their impact on computer systems
  • Familiarity with the FBI's role in cybersecurity and public safety measures
  • Knowledge of basic computer security practices, including antivirus software
  • Awareness of the implications of DNS resolution on Internet connectivity
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the latest malware threats, specifically Flashback and SabPub
  • Learn about effective antivirus solutions, including Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes
  • Explore the role of government agencies in cybersecurity and public safety
  • Investigate best practices for maintaining computer security and preventing infections
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for cybersecurity professionals, IT support staff, and general computer users concerned about malware infections and Internet connectivity issues.

Evo
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I want this kept in GD as any IE users would probably be in here, not computer technology. :wink:

This is really amazing what the US government has done to keep people from losing their connections. I'm impressed.

For computer users, a few mouse clicks could mean the difference between staying online and losing Internet connections this summer.

Unknown to most of them, their problem began when international hackers ran an online advertising scam to take control of infected computers around the world. In a highly unusual response, the FBI set up a safety net months ago using government computers to prevent Internet disruptions for those infected users. But that system is to be shut down.

The FBI is encouraging users to visit a website run by its security partner, http://www.dcwg.org , that will inform them whether they're infected and explain how to fix the problem. After July 9, infected users won't be able to connect to the Internet.

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.
continued...

http://news.yahoo.com/hundreds-thousands-may-lose-internet-july-181324701--finance.html
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
Once again, I can only lie back and laugh at those who don't have Macs.
Even if this applied to me, I would rather lose my internet connection than have the Federal Bureau of Imbeciles escape the confines of their country to interfere in my life. They have no jurisdiction over anything outside of US borders.
 
DNS Resolution = GREEN

Your computer appears to have been looking up IP addresses correctly up until you visited this site!
 
AlephZero said:
Dream on... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17623422
Oh, wow... half a million Macs. As opposed to how many hundreds of millions of Windows-burners that get trashed on a regular basis, and often by Windows itself?
Besides, there is nothing that can be done to my machine that will in any way inconvenience me, unless it crashes completely. In that case, I would just reinstall Leopard, zap the PRAM, and be back to business as usual. It's not as if there are Top Secret files in my address book or Documents folder.
There is also always the option of turning it off, or at least disconnecting it from the net.
 
sorry, but I can't play video games with Macs

it's kind of a deal breaker
 
SHISHKABOB said:
sorry, but I can't play video games with Macs

it's kind of a deal breaker
Why apologize? It doesn't bother me any.
 
Hurray! My computer was green as well until I clicked on that site!

I don't care if my windows machine catches on fire and explodes. With the money I saved from not buying a Mac I'll buy two more.
 
Meh, I use Linux.
 
  • #10
Microsoft Security Essentials is free and a highly rated anti-virus protection, but for malware I would recommend downloading a little extra protection such as "Malwarebytes" which is also free. Cnet is a great website for rating and downloading freeware. You can buy other common anti-virus programs like McAfee or Norton for around $60.oo, but if you really need better protection then the free programs can provide I'd suggest paying more and shopping around for which is rated the best at any given time.
 
  • #11
Danger said:
Once again, I can only lie back and laugh at those who don't have Macs.
Even if this applied to me, I would rather lose my internet connection than have the Federal Bureau of Imbeciles escape the confines of their country to interfere in my life. They have no jurisdiction over anything outside of US borders.

Keep laughing, because I can buy three PC's for the price of your mac, with equal if not better performance.

And I don't have to carry around the pretentious douchebaggery that seems to come standard with the purchase of an apple product either.
 
  • #12
Danger said:
Once again, I can only lie back and laugh at those who don't have Macs.
Don't laugh too hard until you have checked to see whether your Mac is infected with Flashback or SabPub. These are just the latest of the recent spate of backdoor attacks on the Mac.
 
  • #13
dipole said:
I don't have to carry around the pretentious douchebaggery that seems to come standard with the purchase of an apple product either.
:confused:
I have no idea what that's supposed to mean. There's absolutely no need t carry anything other than the computer itself. By choice, I always take the power cord so I don't have to consider battery life.
Since the ex- gave me a nice Targa bag for it, which just perfectly fits in the cargo pouch of my walker, I also keep my accessories in it just so they don't get lost.
 
  • #14
Danger said:
:confused:
I have no idea what that's supposed to mean. There's absolutely no need t carry anything other than the computer itself. By choice, I always take the power cord so I don't have to consider battery life.
Since the ex- gave me a nice Targa bag for it, which just perfectly fits in the cargo pouch of my walker, I also keep my accessories in it just so they don't get lost.

i use a mac and I'm proud
i used to feel alone in a crowd
but now you look around these days
and it seems there's a pretentious CRAZE
i'm pretentious he's pretentious she's pretentious we're pretentious
wouldn't you like to be a pretentious douche?
i'm pretentious he's pretentious she's pretentious
if you use a mac you're a pretentious douche, also! ​
sung to the tune of "I'm a Pepper"

ps. my macbook is nearly 5 years old now. I think the time saved by the fact that it only takes 30 seconds to boot up vs the 5 minutes is well worth the extra cash. Plus, I think it may have crashed twice in those 5 years.

pps. DNS Resolution = GREEN, just to keep me marginally on topic. o:)
 
  • #15
Hmmm, Mac... Mac... dunno, never seen one. I guess they don't have a presence in the working world. :biggrin:
 
  • #16
OmCheeto said:
ps. my macbook is nearly 5 years old now. I think the time saved by the fact that it only takes 30 seconds to boot up vs the 5 minutes is well worth the extra cash. Plus, I think it may have crashed twice in those 5 years.)

If your PC crashes more than once and takes 5 minutes to boot you're doing something seriously wrong.
 
  • #17
genericusrnme said:
If your PC crashes more than once and takes 5 minutes to boot you're doing something seriously wrong.
Every single person that I know in real life who has a Windows-burner experiences at least a couple of lethal crashes per year. That in spite of whatever Nortons and such-like they invest in.
As for Flashback and SabPub, I have no idea whether or not my machine has them. If it does, it isn't being adversely affected by them. (Once or twice a month, Safari will quit while playing Adventure Quest—no other time—which it blames upon the Flash player. If that's the result of a world-menacing virus, I can live with it.
 
  • #18
...another mac vs. pc war.

I use both linux and windows, but my PC isn't infected! Then again, I only go to a select group of webpages.
 
  • #19
Danger said:
Every single person that I know in real life who has a Windows-burner experiences at least a couple of lethal crashes per year. That in spite of whatever Nortons and such-like they invest in.
As for Flashback and SabPub, I have no idea whether or not my machine has them. If it does, it isn't being adversely affected by them. (Once or twice a month, Safari will quit while playing Adventure Quest—no other time—which it blames upon the Flash player. If that's the result of a world-menacing virus, I can live with it.

I know no one who has had a single 'lethal' crash.
Even the completely computer illiterate people I know have never had this problem.
 
  • #20
This is completely off topic, back to the OP.
 

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