FAST-MOVING CONFICKER COMPUTER WORM

[ZeppFanForever]

My girlfriend stopped bitching about me being on the computer.

Best Virus ever!!!!

How's it going "Pb Derigable?" Thats a good one! Now the hackers can call the next virus "GIRLFRIENDS STOPPED BITCHING FOR A DAY" virus. ROCK ON!

[ZeppFanForever]

Does anyone know of anyone who got the worm?

I checked my antivirus software and my spybot anti-malware software several times last night. I ran about three scans on each program on both of our computers. So far, so good, (knock on wood).

How's it going "manderlyh?" I love your picture! The last I heard, the Conficker Worm turned out to be a dud. I guess it turned out to be an April Fool's joke. I did not hear of anyone that was being effected by the worm. As long as you keep your computer system updated and have a good updated Firewall, you're going to survive. ROCK ON!

[ZeppFanForever]

How's it going fellow die hard hard core ZEPPELIN fanatics. I'm busy here at work as usual but I'm e-mailing all of you during my lunch. Believe it or not ZEPPELIN fanatics, I'm skipping my regular happy hour at the bar during lunch time to converse with all of you. However, I feel that this subject would be an interesting source for a good thread and a good topic of discussion. So as the saying goes, "and away we go!"

As we speak, a fast-moving conficker computer worm, a scourage of the internet that has infected at least 3 million PC's, is set to spring to life in a new way tomorrow (Wednesday) on April Fool's Day.

What will happen is that many of the poisoned machines will get more aggressive about "phoning home" to the worm's creators over the internet. When this happens, the bad guys (Hackers) behind the worm will be able to trigger the program to send spam, spread more infections and clog networks with traffic resulting in bringing down many websites.

If anyone's PC machine becomes infected, there might be a need to either do a complete Recovery or re-install the operating system.

Lets just hope that none of this happens to any of us tomorrow, PLEASE BE CAREFUL AND BE ALERT! ROCK ON!

How's it going fellow die hard hard core ZEPPELIN fanatics? I hope the week treated all of you well. As usual, I'm using my friend's (Bar owner) computer in his bar and I figured that I would relate the latest news on the Conficker Worm. I know it sucks but here it is.

HUGE COMPUTER WORM CONFICKER STIRRING TO LIFE

The dreaded Conficker computer worm is stirring. Security experts say the worm's authors appear to be trying to build a big moneymaker, but not a cyber weapon of mass destruction as many people feared.

As many as 12 million computers have been infected by Conficker. Security firm Trend Micro says some of the machines have been updated over the past few days with fake anti-virus software _ the first attempt by Conficker's authors to profit from their massive "botnet."

Criminals use bogus security software to extort money. Victims are told that their computers are infected, and can be fixed only by paying for a clean-up that never happens.

Conficker gets on computers through a hole Microsoft patched in October. PC's set up for automatic Windows updates should be clean.

Have a great evening and ROCK ON!

[bigstickbonzo]

I read a very good article in Popular Science today about China and the not-so-secret underground world of computer hacking. Apparently, the Chinese view computer hackers to the equivalent of a rock star and it's estimated that 1/3 grade school students aspire becoming a hacker. The article went into detail about an ex-language specialist for the US Army who was asked in 2004 to begin tracking and documenting hacking of US based websites, specifically government domains like whitehouse.gov, which had been hacked numerous times in 2001, 02. What he found was startling. Not only does China's hacking community thrive, most people who do hack are every day, normal citizens. They have their own hacking based cliqs and groups and operate freely without fear of prosecution. The Chinese government has not been a target so there is little incentive for them to pursue these groups, who have their own websites, rant and rave about what they've accomplished and conspire future domain takeovers in public chatrooms. So far, they've only shut down websites and brandished "nationalistic" propaganda. But many worry because of the circumstances, the lack of US influence and power to do anything about it, there's a very high chance in the future they could begin targeting sites and services with sensitive information. The even bigger worry is sensitive and classified US information: military, judicial, civilian, medical could all be at risk for interception by these Chinese hackers and there is nothing the US can legally do to stop or prevent it from happening.

I wish I could remember greater details or find an online link. If I come across any addition information, I will post it.

[Medhb]

Yes, I read something similar. This is an area where I'm sure Obama is going to make huge improvements. From what I've read the White House has systems that are practically fossilized. They need to get up to speed and so do our institutions. Information security is HUGE. And anyone who thinks the Conficker worm was a scam doesn't realize the nature of the beast. Just because we didn't see any visible traces of activity doesn't mean a thing.

Many hackers do it for the challenge, and others....well, I'm sure we're all aware of the ramifications.

My tower had gotten so screwed up once that it took me 2 days to clean it up. My connections to Norton were going to a spoofed site and I was running all kinds of programs, cleaners, and modifying entries and I got a pop up that said "I only fuck with people my own level" Neeedless to say, the fueled the fire. I won....I only wish I could have sent a message back. Check...MATE! I was just lucky though. I was able to beat this ass hole. I've tightened my security measures even more now. No guarantees though.

[ZeppFanForever]

I read a very good article in Popular Science today about China and the not-so-secret underground world of computer hacking. Apparently, the Chinese view computer hackers to the equivalent of a rock star and it's estimated that 1/3 grade school students aspire becoming a hacker. The article went into detail about an ex-language specialist for the US Army who was asked in 2004 to begin tracking and documenting hacking of US based websites, specifically government domains like whitehouse.gov, which had been hacked numerous times in 2001, 02. What he found was startling. Not only does China's hacking community thrive, most people who do hack are every day, normal citizens. They have their own hacking based cliqs and groups and operate freely without fear of prosecution. The Chinese government has not been a target so there is little incentive for them to pursue these groups, who have their own websites, rant and rave about what they've accomplished and conspire future domain takeovers in public chatrooms. So far, they've only shut down websites and brandished "nationalistic" propaganda. But many worry because of the circumstances, the lack of US influence and power to do anything about it, there's a very high chance in the future they could begin targeting sites and services with sensitive information. The even bigger worry is sensitive and classified US information: military, judicial, civilian, medical could all be at risk for interception by these Chinese hackers and there is nothing the US can legally do to stop or prevent it from happening.

I wish I could remember greater details or find an online link. If I come across any addition information, I will post it.

how's it going "bigstickbonzo?" Thats really something how Governments reward the hackers by hiring them to catch other hackers. I would appreciate any additional information that you can find, thank you. ROCK ON!

[ZeppFanForever]

Yes, I read something similar. This is an area where I'm sure Obama is going to make huge improvements. From what I've read the White House has systems that are practically fossilized. They need to get up to speed and so do our institutions. Information security is HUGE. And anyone who thinks the Conficker worm was a scam doesn't realize the nature of the beast. Just because we didn't see any visible traces of activity doesn't mean a thing.

Many hackers do it for the challenge, and others....well, I'm sure we're all aware of the ramifications.

My tower had gotten so screwed up once that it took me 2 days to clean it up. My connections to Norton were going to a spoofed site and I was running all kinds of programs, cleaners, and modifying entries and I got a pop up that said "I only fuck with people my own level" Neeedless to say, the fueled the fire. I won....I only wish I could have sent a message back. Check...MATE! I was just lucky though. I was able to beat this ass hole. I've tightened my security measures even more now. No guarantees though.

How's it going "Medhb?" I know how you feel. My PC computer froze up so bad that I had to do a complete recovery. I am also very careful what websites that I visit now. I got the same pop up on another occasion that said the same thing as yours did. I typed in the words: Your level is Kindergarden level asshole so F*C* OFF! I then did a complete recovery and I never got another pop up again. There is a very good chance that the pop ups that we got were very close neighbors in our own neighborhood. ROCK ON!