Conficker.C, Conficker.D: prevention is better than cure
I don’t normally jump in with blog posts about every newly detected or predicted PC security threat. For one thing, the rumours are too numerous and frequent.
However, the news about new Conficker worm variants is widespread. It’s even on TV in my quiet part of the world.
It is reported that Conficker will spring back into life on April 1 2009, riding on cunning exploits of Windows operating systems.
What should we do about Conficker?
Well, despite the excitement in the news, it’s business as usual really.
We need to take all the usual precautions to keep our PCs secure.
That includes:
1. Windows Updates
If you use Windows, get the latest updates for your system. If you don’t have automatic updating enabled then today (March 31, April 1 2009) would be a good day to download updates, especially security updates.
2. Virus Protection
Have quality anti-virus software installed. See our anti-virus page here.
3. Spyware Protection
Have quality anti-spyware software installed. See our anti-spyware page here.
4. Use strong passwords.
Microsoft recommend that this is an especially important component in securing yourself against Conficker activity. Why? Because Conficker is a worm.
Worms like to travel over a network. But it’s hard to travel over a network if strong passwords are defending it. See our page about passwords.
What will happen?
The reputable security brands are already able to detect Conficker activity.
They may not have a full understanding of Conficker’s potential activities until a few ‘live’ examples are available. That means they may not all be able to completely remove Conficker variants right away.
But the best anti-spyware and anti-virus brands will be improving their removal ability hour-by-hour if Conficker spreads.
References at Microsoft.
Microsoft are well aware that Conficker might try to disable the security measures provided in your version of Windows.
Microsoft on Conficker.C
Microsoft on Conficker.D
Microsoft identifies the threat as severe. And, sure enough, the prospect of of what Conficker might do if it had free access to your PC is very worrying. But Conficker will NOT have free access to a PC that is defended with some common-sense security measures.
Other References
At Panda Security, this message helps to put some of the excitement into perspective.
Don’t get taken in by the Conficker-panic.
(Note the links to free detection and protection tools in that page.)
Free Protection from Conficker
If you have read elsewhere on this site you would have noticed that most reputable brands of security software are very generous: they give away free versions of their software and provide free online scans.
See our page featuring free security software: Free and Online: virus scanners, tools to remove viruses, worms, trojans, backdoors.
