Downadup / Conficker Virus

The Downadup / Conficer Virus and the April 1st Threat and How to Remove it. Messages circulating via email, blogs, and online communities are warning computer users about a "sleeper" virus dubbed the "downadup" or "conficker" worm.

These warnings are true although some media reports about the potential consequences of a supposed April 1st 2009 launch of the sleeper virus tend to be exaggerated.

Although the potential threat is certainly real, computer security experts suggest that some media reports surrounding the supposed "launch" of the worm on April 1st 2009 tend to seriously exaggerate its potential consequences. Some of the more sensational reports claim that on April 1st hackers will be able to take control of millions of computers around the world with potentially devastating results. In spite of these reports, computer security experts are telling computer users there is no need for panic.

Users of Microsoft Windows should ensure that the latest Windows security updates are installed on their computers. A removal tool for the worm is available from the F-Secure website. Note that computers infected by Downadup are blocked from reaching f-secure.com websites. The F-Secure FTP server can also be reached from: ftp://ftp.antivirus.fi/anti-virus/tools/beta/ and ftp://193.110.109.53/anti-virus/tools/beta/.

Final Word

As always, I encourage anyone with a comment, suggestion, question, idea, criticism or inspiration to contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Please also see The Inland Magazine Computer Problems Forum if you have a specific IT problem.

Bookmark this on Delicious

Security