The discussion centers on troubleshooting slow internet connections, particularly in the context of recent virus outbreaks such as Blaster and Sobig.F. Users have reported significant slowdowns attributed to increased overall internet traffic caused by these viruses, which launch denial of service attacks. Norton Antivirus, developed by Symantec, is highlighted as a key tool for maintaining security, although it does not directly slow connections. Recommendations include keeping virus definitions updated and checking connection types for potential issues.
PREREQUISITESThis discussion is beneficial for IT professionals, network administrators, and anyone experiencing slow internet issues, particularly in relation to virus impacts and connection troubleshooting.
You misunderstand the problem. Blaster (worse than Sobig if I remember correctly - there were a handful of major viruses/worms in the past two weeks) doesn't slow YOUR connection to the internet, it slows the internet itself. It launched a denial of service attack on www.windowsupdate.com (see the bulletin there) from each computer it infected. It had a major impact on overall internet traffic and made patching the security flaw difficult. I personally had trouble updating my computers at work because of Blaster.
