Nearly nine million PCs worldwide have been infected by the Downadup worm, and the number is set to rise, experts have warned.
Finnish security firm F-Secure said that 8.9 million computers were now infected – a massive rise since four days ago, when 2.4 million PCs had the worm.
The Downadup worm, also known as the Conficker worm, can spread through local area networks, the internet and on removable storage devices, the company warned.
“Downadup has ‘old school’ worm functionality (no user interaction required), the likes of which we haven’t really seen for a while now. It also knows some current tricks,” Sean Sullivan of F-Secure said.
A recent report from rival security firm Secunia revealed that 98 per cent of home PCs were not secure.
For more on this checkout Web User UK, and What’s On My PC by fellow Blogger Rick Robinnette.
7 responses so far ↓
jowazzoo // January 17, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Not sure if my case is typical. That sucker nailed me and it took 5 different apps to get it all + some good old brute force. As is often the case, I haven’t the slightest idea where I got it.
)
One of the nastiest parts is that it shuts off your ability to access your virus/malware proggies on your hard disk, eliminates your ability to access their web sites, will not allow you to access Google or Yahoo and lots of other things.
My little nasty had the following components: svhost, TDSS, spyware guard 2008, fake alert, patched.ck and misc naughties. And for good measure, a good portion of what I had was rootkits. TG for UnHack me.
techpaul // January 17, 2009 at 4:48 pm
The implications of this are quite dire, and point out a need for just the kind of industry-wide “do something about it!” you mentioned in your challenge to Google article.
From 3 million to over 8, in 24 hours? That’s an epidemic.
* The patch was released in October.
* It’s now January.
* This worm is “old school”.
* Trained Network Administrators seem to be the ones with egg on their faces.
Sigh. It’s going to get worse before it gets better.
billmullins // January 18, 2009 at 10:55 am
I agree – It is an epidemic; caused by apathy.
Bill
barbibruce // January 17, 2009 at 7:22 pm
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uchari // January 18, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Q: does infect Linux?????
billmullins // January 19, 2009 at 9:10 am
No, It doesn’t infect Linux.
Extremesecurity // January 26, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Did Downadup/conficker attack your network? I’ve created a batch file for system administrators to clean/patch/cure infected systems in their networks.
check it out here:
http://extremesecurity.blogspot.com/2009/01/beat-downadupconficker-like-pro-my.html
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