Weird stuff_Conficker Worm etc.

frailer · March 18, 2009, 05:16:28 AM

This sort of stuff boggles my non-IT mind; yet I find it often fascinating. I guess there are a lot of gullible people out there surfin'...who click on stuff without thinking that they may be about to be taken for a ride.

A ref to Brian Krebs' article on this:

Conficker and TrafficConverter.biz

Marktonk · March 18, 2009, 08:07:30 AM

Amazing,

They plant the virus and then charge you to get rid of it....you can not be too careful. Thanks for the post, I sent to my kids as another example of being web savvy.

Regards,

Mark

ChrisP · March 18, 2009, 08:26:33 AM

Had that happen to the PC at home, it was me or them and after about 2 hours I arose triumphant. PITA but made me much more aware of where I was going on the net...lesson learned.

Joe · March 18, 2009, 10:58:24 AM

It's not just a hobby anymore for these people.

Nick Burns · March 18, 2009, 11:06:13 AM

If you are going to do anything on the internet with a Windows machine, more important than antivirus, make yourself a limited user. The malware poses as you and is only as powerful as you. If you can't install, they can't install.

gnubler · March 18, 2009, 11:09:32 AM

Wow, another reason why I never, ever click on ads and block as many of them as I can. And why I'll never run a Windows machine at home.

Joe · March 18, 2009, 11:15:31 AM

Quote from: gnubler on March 18, 2009, 11:09:32 AMWow, another reason why I never, ever click on ads and block as many of them as I can. And why I'll never run a Windows machine at home.

Unfortunately you don't have to click anything. Often times just going to the infected site gets you.

I wish someone had some figures by how many home PC's are out there that the users are configured as Admin. And they wonder why their PC is always so screwed up.

frailer · March 18, 2009, 04:50:06 PM

Maybe Joe or Nick could outline the steps to do this, for anyone wandering through here, who may be in doubt...Admin vs. Limited User.

No names. :cheesy:

Nick Burns · March 18, 2009, 04:59:40 PM

Simple enough, Control Panel -> Users -> Create two additional user accounts with admin rights, XP won't let you downgrade yourself without there being at least two existing admin accounts, and it doesn't see or count the hidden Administrator as one of them. So when you are done, you will actually have three admin accounts, one hidden and two visible. You should be sure to set strong (letters&numbers) passwords for all three of these. Then downgrade yourself to limited user.

frailer · March 18, 2009, 05:09:07 PM

Ahhh...so zats how you do it...

Joe · March 18, 2009, 05:14:37 PM

The guy is just like having an IT encyclopedia around, huh?

gnubler · March 18, 2009, 05:23:13 PM

His wife is a lucky woman.

youston · March 18, 2009, 05:33:07 PM

Quote from: Joe on March 18, 2009, 05:14:37 PMThe guy is just like having an IT encyclopedia around, huh?

Hey, like that little paperclip in Office!

gnubler · March 18, 2009, 06:11:40 PM

I wish Adobe had that little paperclip man. SOOOO helpful.

Joe · March 18, 2009, 06:56:31 PM

Quote from: youston on March 18, 2009, 05:33:07 PM
Quote from: Joe on March 18, 2009, 05:14:37 PMThe guy is just like having an IT encyclopedia around, huh?

Hey, like that little paperclip in Office!

Not to change the subject but do you remember Microsoft Bob? :laugh:

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Weird stuff_Conficker Worm etc.