Conficker Gets Update, Does ... Something

[scryer_360]

I thought so. Its not polling CNN and Ebay for internet connectivity: its polling for data. The virus has been deleting itself from computers, right?

I think this is as follows: the people who coded conficker designed it to be a bug to study reactions to the mass infection. It had a "go" date to give everyone one singular point of anxiety: if it went active the moment it touched the computer, it would be like any other infection. But Conficker C has had a year to build up on millions of computers and EVERYONE has heard of it. It's been sprayed across news sites, blogs, and I've seen machines on ebay and craigslist for sale because "it's infected with Conficker, I don't know how to fix it" and more.

In other words, this is a study in panic and reaction to panic. Nothing more.

 

[mrhappy50]

this "virus" is stupid... just take some Advil and it'll go away.

 

[anamaniac]

[citation][nom]scryer_360[/nom]I thought so. Its not polling CNN and Ebay for internet connectivity: its polling for data. The virus has been deleting itself from computers, right?I think this is as follows: the people who coded conficker designed it to be a bug to study reactions to the mass infection. It had a "go" date to give everyone one singular point of anxiety: if it went active the moment it touched the computer, it would be like any other infection. But Conficker C has had a year to build up on millions of computers and EVERYONE has heard of it. It's been sprayed across news sites, blogs, and I've seen machines on ebay and craigslist for sale because "it's infected with Conficker, I don't know how to fix it" and more.In other words, this is a study in panic and reaction to panic. Nothing more.[/citation]

I like your argument. I believe it's very possible also. The virus has been generally harmless so far, but yet mass hysteria still occurs. Anything in the name of science right?

 

[San Pedro]

[citation][nom]mrhappy50[/nom]this "virus" is stupid... just take some Advil and it'll go away.[/citation]

Crap, I'm allergic to advil. . .will Tylenol be ok? ? ?

 

[Greatwalrus]

[citation][nom]hercules[/nom]Question: If i cant access some anti virus websites I have this "thing"? Is that the only way to tell?[/citation]
http://www.confickerworkinggroup.org

I don't think it's the only way to tell, but it is a signficant and very easy way to tell. Check that link above, click on "Check for Infection" and see if any of the images are missing.

 

[ricardok]

[citation][nom]NuclearShadow[/nom]I have no fear of this worm and I am on a windows OS. I have no anti-virus installed either. Common sense is all anyone truly needs.[/citation]
Congratulations.. You are infected. With several worms than.

Are you aware that worms are created to spread itself without users having to click on something? I guess not.

Anyway, worms can be harmless like this one seems to be.
If people know that they have to use fences on their house because the neighborhood is full of malicious ppl than they also should be properly introduced to the Internet. Viruses and Trojans are user based, Worms aren't. A good anti-virus to protect you from known viruses/trojans/worms and a good firewall to protect you from unknown worms.

Done, you are "safe".. I wish...

Anyway, I think that the "paranoia test" is a valid argument. And Linux/OSX users are feeling a bit left out of the party.

 

[mitch074]

Conficker? What's that? A virus? Geez, it's been a long time since I've seen one... And my antivirus isn't installed, what should I do?

Waaaait... It's Windows-only! Pooh, I'm missing on all the fun!

Shall I install Windows on my machine, instead of a Linux distro? Hunting virii looks like it's fun!

 

[Guest]

It will buy us all a brand new Crysler!

Like said before, can't someone isolate the virus,and run it in a modified network,accelerate the bios clock on all pc's in the network, to see what would happen?

Are there firewall and/or anti-virus solutions to it?

It would be a minute in a supercomputer to decode the encryption. I'm sure if it's that important MS would have run it in one of their supercomputers to dismantle the code.

 

[igot1forya]

I think Conficker is a proof of concept blown out of proportions.

 

[E7130]

People get so scared, I had a lot of people call me and ask if their PC was safe, I said as long as you update MS regularly and have recent definitions, then all should be fine. Most of these infected PC are those of pirated XP copies without a genuine key and updates most being not in the USA as reports have shown.

 

[Guest]

I've been sent from the future to warn you all of TERRIBLE danger! Conficker is trolling, scouring the interwebs for one thing only... porn. There is no porn in the future.

 

[Guest]

[citation][nom]andflhtfh[/nom]I've been sent from the future to warn you all of TERRIBLE danger! Conficker is trolling, scouring the interwebs for one thing only... porn. There is no porn in the future.[/citation]
Yes, Terminator 3 is almost there!

 

[ajcroteau]

Is it any real mystery to who is writing these viruses... Just take a look at McAfee's or Norton's payroll... that should narrow down the search...

 

[Guest]

This is the fine work of capitalism driven closed source software. Rather than take the Linux approach and leave roughly zero backdoors, Microsoft leaves all sorts of backdoors, and then partner companies write firewall and antivirus to monitor them. You get a bloated and intrusive computing experience, shareholders all over the world get your money, what's not to like?

 

[Guest]

I'm angling towards the Skynet/Rise of the Machines angle, with a twist of Fight Club. It'd be so much cooler to live in a post apocalyptic society where it's considered acceptable to SHOOT the guy pissing you off versus being creatively administrated into a basement with poor lighting and exposed conduits. While you're down here we have a rat problem i need you to look into mmmkay?

 

[waffle911]

[citation][nom]ProDigit80[/nom]It will buy us all a brand new Crysler!Like said before, can't someone isolate the virus,and run it in a modified network,accelerate the bios clock on all pc's in the network, to see what would happen?Are there firewall and/or anti-virus solutions to it?It would be a minute in a supercomputer to decode the encryption. I'm sure if it's that important MS would have run it in one of their supercomputers to dismantle the code.[/citation]
You're ignoring the fact that Microsoft itself has posted a not insignificant amount of money for information leading to the identification and arrest of the individuals involved. Plus, it only makes there OS look worse, so they have every incentive to stop it. Not to mention, yes, many many researchers have dismantled the virus bit by bit (literally) to find out how it works and anything else they can find out from it... They know it inside and out, that's how they knew it would update itself on April 1st. It's just that the virus has no clues within or without itself as to who could possibly have coded it in the first place and why or what it might be capable of doing.
For what it's worth, one of my classmate's PC's started seriously acting up on April 1st... and not because of someone's prank, either, unless you count Conficker as an April Fool's prank, which to an extent it was.
But just you watch. April 1st, 2012, Conficker controls all of the PC's in the world and takes over à la Skynet.