

A botnet, or robot network, is a group of web-linked computers - sometimes called zombies - that have been commandeered, in some instances by criminals, to perpetrate all kinds of online nastiness. It makes the computer part of a "botnet" of other infected computers. The worm disables Windows Automatic Updates and the Windows Security Center. Here are some things you should know about Conficker: Names it goes by:
CORNFLICKER WORM VIRUS INSTALL
Once it has its "command and control" instructions, the infected computer becomes part of a "botnet" of many infected computers that take orders from those who control them, and as such, it might gather personal information, install malicious software on the computer and attack or infect other computers.Ī group of internet groups and businesses led by Microsoft has offered a $250,000 US reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible, but in the meantime, they're also urging people to make sure they have proper Windows security updates and anti -virus software installed. There are other worms crawling the internet, but this one has made headlines in recent weeks because the latest variant of the worm, Conficker C, which was noticed in early March, is expected to launch some sort of attack on Ap(it will check the date on a number of internet sites, so changing the date on the computer itself isn't a safeguard).Ĭomputer security experts don't yet know what actions computers infected with Conficker C will be asked to perform and might not know until April 1.Ĭonficker infects computers running various versions of Microsoft Windows, especially those that have not been patched with a security upgrade issued by Microsoft in October. Conficker is a worm that has been spreading to computers through the internet for months, and computer security experts estimate that millions of machines are infected.
