Conficker Worm
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Conficker Worm
Gizmodo: How a Brainy Worm Might Jack the World's PCs on April 1
We often have social networks in the form of computer networks. In offices, labs, and apartments we share folders, printers, and other information. Ethernet cables and wireless connections provide the edges, and the computers are the nodes in these graphs. Conficker is a computer virus that takes advantage of these connections to spread from computer to computer, and some people believe a computer apocalypse may happen tomorrow, April 1 (hopefully not, that'd be a horrible April Fools' Joke). Conficker is waiting for instructions from its creator, and no one knows what it will do tomorrow when it receives them.
We'll find out tomorrow if anything happens. Who knows, maybe classes will be canceled?
We often have social networks in the form of computer networks. In offices, labs, and apartments we share folders, printers, and other information. Ethernet cables and wireless connections provide the edges, and the computers are the nodes in these graphs. Conficker is a computer virus that takes advantage of these connections to spread from computer to computer, and some people believe a computer apocalypse may happen tomorrow, April 1 (hopefully not, that'd be a horrible April Fools' Joke). Conficker is waiting for instructions from its creator, and no one knows what it will do tomorrow when it receives them.
We'll find out tomorrow if anything happens. Who knows, maybe classes will be canceled?
Re: Conficker Worm
'Conficker' Worm Wakes Up, But It's Quiet
At this point, it appears that Conficker has not done much damage. Building of Alex's observations of the nodes and edges, the article states that Australia has a low number of infections. Just like the class example of World of Warcraft, people/nodes must know/share an edge with another person in order to get infected. Perhaps due to the level of computer use, not many computers have connected to others that may hold the Conficker virus. Or, perhaps the virus originated in the US and there are not many edges that cross over to Australia. It would normally be expected that the virus would continue along the lines in the class demo yesterday. However, due to antivirus software and users actively trying to block conficker, the virus is denied connections to some nodes.
At this point, it appears that Conficker has not done much damage. Building of Alex's observations of the nodes and edges, the article states that Australia has a low number of infections. Just like the class example of World of Warcraft, people/nodes must know/share an edge with another person in order to get infected. Perhaps due to the level of computer use, not many computers have connected to others that may hold the Conficker virus. Or, perhaps the virus originated in the US and there are not many edges that cross over to Australia. It would normally be expected that the virus would continue along the lines in the class demo yesterday. However, due to antivirus software and users actively trying to block conficker, the virus is denied connections to some nodes.
byroncheng- Posts : 30
Join date : 2009-03-31
April Fools?
So, my mom called me yesterday and freaked me out. She was going on about how this virus is going to take over the world and blah blah blah. She also told me how to prevent it. i.e. just turn the computer off for the entire day (which I clearly have not obeyed although, I did turn my computer off at 11:59 last night. lol) I did some research of my own and I saw an story on ABC news. Here is the link if you would like to read about it: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=7226192 As Byron said, the threat seems to be low :-)
SamShanklin- Posts : 10
Join date : 2009-04-01
more conflicker
If you weren't already shaking in your boots, here is another one: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=7220736&page=1 The video for the actual news report is on this page too.
SamShanklin- Posts : 10
Join date : 2009-04-01
Do You Have It?
Kevin Bacon!?!
Gizmodo: Conficker fix
Conficker can disable Windows updates and prevent you from using security software effectively. So chances are if you can access websites like Symantec and Windows Update, you probably don't have the virus. Just a quick and easy check that will let you set up some protection between nodes in the network. If you do have it, download the necessary antivirus updates to another computer and use a USB drive or CD to transfer the files to the infected computer for installation.
Senate Legislation to Control Private Networks
Article in WaPo about Senate legislation to be shut down networks that are spreading bugs or the source of a cyberattack. There are already systems in place to control government networks, but the bill proposes even allowing the control of private networks.
"Addressing what intelligence officials describe as a gaping vulnerability, the legislation also calls for the appointment of a White House cybersecurity "czar" with unprecedented authority to shut down computer networks, including private ones, if a cyberattack is underway, the officials said."
"Addressing what intelligence officials describe as a gaping vulnerability, the legislation also calls for the appointment of a White House cybersecurity "czar" with unprecedented authority to shut down computer networks, including private ones, if a cyberattack is underway, the officials said."
Scott Tu- Guest
Re: Conficker Worm
That legislation could cause more harm then good. Someone could hack into that system and gain control of the cybersecurity czar's power. They could shut down public and private computer networks whenever they wanted.
This task might be too hard to do for one kid in his basement but a group of people with a lot of time and resources (like China) could do it. China has been able to hack into the US government before. Having the power to shut down others' networks would be a very powerful tool if a conflict arose.
Here is an article about China hacking into the Pentagon last year:
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2176777,00.html
This task might be too hard to do for one kid in his basement but a group of people with a lot of time and resources (like China) could do it. China has been able to hack into the US government before. Having the power to shut down others' networks would be a very powerful tool if a conflict arose.
Here is an article about China hacking into the Pentagon last year:
http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2176777,00.html
Mark Straccia- Posts : 37
Join date : 2009-04-01
scary
So I'm sure most people know the Conficker Worm is no longer that much of a threat, but this article put other things in perspective for me. Like the fact that the media creates moral panics and stirs up so much attention about things like the Conficker Worm and Y2K and maybe when people are paying attention to problems like these, they won't notice other viruses filtering in--maybe they are diversions. Also, this editorial talks about cyber warfare and how viruses and other things are being created to seep into networks that will ultimately steal personal information and such because everyone is so digital these days. I knew such things existed and do go on, but I never knew to what extent this is true. To be hearing that governmental computers are at risk for being hacked is good in a sense that we can find out what other countries are doing, if they have plans for nuclear weapons, etc, but bad of course to maintain our country's secrecy.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ed20090409a1.html
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ed20090409a1.html
Lauren Victory- Posts : 38
Join date : 2009-04-11
Re: Conficker Worm
Conficker Worm has hit University of Utah's computers. Makes you wonder if Northwestern's computers have been hit.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5glHoytrRzwnvGp8sAaLo7L4skvowD97GPM6G0
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5glHoytrRzwnvGp8sAaLo7L4skvowD97GPM6G0
Mark Straccia- Posts : 37
Join date : 2009-04-01
Re: Conficker Worm
This article has a good picture of showing where Conficker worm infected in America.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/162477/conficker_worm_not_finished_yet.html
http://www.pcworld.com/article/162477/conficker_worm_not_finished_yet.html
Mark Straccia- Posts : 37
Join date : 2009-04-01
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