The Conficker Worm

The Conficker which is also known as Downadup or Kido is basically a computer worm which can copy itself automatically on the networks without any interaction. It can send its copies through email address lists to other computers and increase when a computer is infected.

Purpose of the Conficker Worm

The basic purpose of the Conficker is not known but according to some experts it may all its creator to remotely install the software on the computer once it is completely spread.

The creators will gain complete access to the computer networks alert getting personal information and high security information which can create severe damage to the computer networks by disabling computer networks services or features.

Who is At Risk?

The targets of the Conficker are the Windows XP and Windows Vista Operating systems. The companies with large networks are at risk of getting infected with the Coinficker. It is because that these computers are not updated regularly with latest Microsoft patches.

Protecting Against the Rampant Conficker Worm

The compute has infected large number of businesses all over the world with almost 9 million PCs. The number of these infected computer is increasing tremendously everyday. The worm can automatically install the additional malware for the attacker control websites when the computer is infected. It can steal any information as it has the password stealer to remote control software. The computer infected by the Conficker is completely under control of attackers.

The internet Storm Center says that Conficker can spread in three ways.

The main attack of the Conficker is in the Microsoft Server service. It can attack and take over the computers without October patch.

Then it can attack to find out the Administrator passwords used in the local networks spread by the network share.

Third attack of the Conficker is on the removable devices and network shares. It activates with the autorun file as soon as the USB is attached to the infected computer.

The businesses which don’t update their desktops and main server regularly might easily be suffered by the Conficker and other worms. This worm will get the access to other computer when one computer is infected by this worm on network and can spread rapidly.

There will be no threat to the home computers as they are protected by the fire wall but there are still chances for these computers to be infected.

Microsoft patch is the most obvious protection of the Conficker. There can also be use of block list [provided by the F-secure in the networks to stop these worms from further spreading.

You should disable the autorun to protect your computer from automatic attack of the conficker from the USB drive and other removable media.

How to Get Rid of the Conficker Worm

There are two software recovery tools provided by the Microsoft which can be downloaded very easily. You can not download these tools if computer is already infected with the Conficker and there left no solution of the Conficker worm. You should take the infected computer to the computer professionals. You may clean and reload the hard drive if you are unable to remove the worm. You will have to transfer all data from infected computer to another hard drive you should reload new operating system. Then the original files can be added once again.