Conficker Virus - News, Removal, prevention, tips

1mAn3rd

This is a thread with news on the Conficker (Downup, Downadup, Kido) Virus. It is a horrible virus that has been activated on April First, 2009.

Conficker = Configure + The German word, ficken, meaning to **ck

This virus was first found in October 2008, however it was not spread, therefore not deemed threatening. Now, everyone is raving about it, and people are sick out of their minds, thinking that they might have it.

To find out if you have it, go to this website:

On the top of that website, there should be a chart, and if all of the images on that chart load properly, then you should be clean. If none of them load correctly, then you are most likely blocking image loading in your browser. If a variation of the top row images do not load, then you may have the Conficker Virus on the host computer. If there's a combination of both bottom and top row images not loading correctly, then you may have blocked certain websites, may have the Conficker Virus, or may just have an unsecure web connection.

If you are clean, then you should definitely do Windows Update. Windows has created a "patch" for the virus, stopping you from getting it, however not eliminating it if you already have it.
Also, if you do not do a weekly/monthly Windows Update, I recommend you do so, not just for the Conficker Virus updates, but for many other security hole patches.
The patch has been made to work on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Home/Pro, Windows XP x64, and Windows Vista *.

If you are really paranoid, install an anti-virus software. is my personal favourite, if you are looking for a free anti-virus software.
If you have Comast© for your ISP, simply sign in to your Comcast© e-mail account on and go to to get a free McAfee Security Suite.

Microsoft has offered an online scanning tool to scan your computer for the Conficker Virus.

If you believe that you have the virus, install a removal tool ( should do the trick) and boot your computer in Safe Mode. Then run the tool, and that should get rid of the virus.

My tips:

Once you get rid of the virus, do NOT think that you are completely safe. You must install an anti-virus on to your computer, or do the Windows Update, if not, both. The Conficker Virus is a sneaky little thing; it gets it's way on to your local network (Wireless or not) and will re-download itself on to your computer once gotten rid of. If you have more than one computer hooked up to the same network, it is advisable to check the Conficker Eyechart on all computers.

The best rated removal tools (payed/trial versions) for the Conficker Virus are McAfee and Norton Anti-Virus.

Do not download music/software from untrusted sites around this time, or you may be downloading the Conficker Virus.

If you are using IE, enable to Phisher tool to make sure that a website is safe.

If you have the virus, or even if you don't, try your best to avoid online banking, because it is a very dangerous time to be making transactions online without the correct security.


I guess that's all I can say for now. I'll do my best to update this thread in case of any more news that I happen to run accross.

Resources:

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bakuryu

And it's an absolute must that you install this Update : http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec.../MS08-067.mspx

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Strider

The best things to do:

1. Keep Windows up-to-date, so do your Antivirus.

2. Scan the USB flash drives before inserting to your computer.

3. Keep an eye on the Eyechart.

4. If infected disconnect your computer from the network so that it won't spread in your network. If you're in a corporate network alert the network guys immediately. If it's your home computer do a full system scan with your antivirus. Refrain from using sensitive account information like credit card numbers.

5. If the Antivirus failed to remove the infection contact us! See our removal thread here.

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bakuryu

The eye chart seems cool nice simple way to implement.

Wolfie276

lol yah pretty cool way to test, im amazed by the virus itself considering that it uses p2p to update

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