How to protect yourself from the Conficker virus and others…
Published
March 26th, 2009 by
lagreca
The latest Conficker virus variant will begin checking for a payload to download on April 1, 2009. Here are a few steps you can take to make sure your computer is safe against this and other viruses:
- Patch the specific Conficker vulnerability in Windows
- Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-067
- Scroll down and select your operating system (probably Windows XP Service Pack 2 or 3)
- Download and install the update
- Update your operating system
- Make sure your virus scanner definitions are up to date
- Make sure your virus scanner subscription is paid for and up to date
- Install a free virus scanner
- Scan your installed software for vulnerabilities
- Secunia Online scanner is the easiest (only requires java)
- Secunia Personal Desktop is more thorough but requires a download and install
Symptoms of infection:
- Account lockout policies being reset automatically.
- Certain Microsoft Windows services such as Automatic Updates, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Windows Defender and Error Reporting Services disabled.
- Domain controllers responding slowly to client requests.
- Congestion on local area networks.
- Web sites related to antivirus software becoming inaccessible.
Quick tests to see if you are infected: