FBI warns of Internet Blackout July 9th
#31
WARNING: Hey, folks, you're depending on the Media -- the newspapers or television, to tell you the "truth"....remember, THEY are not always right!!! THEY can be scammed, too. Go to your program that protects your computer (Nortons, McAfee) and see what they say....Do not click into ANY of the sites that are sent to you --- that's the way the worms/viruses get into your computer.
#35
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,812
As much as we can tell, it is legit. Here is an article from PC magazine.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2401227,00.asp
And here is the link from the FBI site
https://forms.fbi.gov/check-to-see-i...sing-rogue-DNS
And if you are like me and want to know if there is any truth to unbelievable stories, check out Snopes.com
http://www.snopes.com/info/inthenews.asp
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2401227,00.asp
And here is the link from the FBI site
https://forms.fbi.gov/check-to-see-i...sing-rogue-DNS
And if you are like me and want to know if there is any truth to unbelievable stories, check out Snopes.com
http://www.snopes.com/info/inthenews.asp
#36
Thanks! I had never heard of this before, and from what it says on the FBI site, it's been going on for quite a while (first article posted Nov 2011). I only have Macs, but my DH has MS Windows PCs, so this is of high interest to me.
http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2011...malware_110911
http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2011...malware_110911
#37
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Saratoga, Arkansas
Posts: 1,909
I can see now why I couldn't find anything on this when I searched for Internet Blackout July 9. That's not how it is discribed in our news. I went to the FBI sight above and checked my router IP and seems it is not one infected. But will know for sure July 9. Thanks for all the investigative work and the postings.
#38
Our security professionals investigated the "rumors" flying around about this. The facts as presented by all the different sources seem to have muddied the information pool, but the basic report is true. snippets from the FBI website report found at http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2011...malware_110911 :
"Six Estonian nationals have been arrested and charged with running a sophisticated Internet fraud ring that infected millions of computers worldwide with a virus and enabled the thieves to manipulate the multi-billion-dollar Internet advertising industry. Users of infected machines were unaware that their computers had been compromised—or that the malicious software rendered their machines vulnerable to a host of other viruses."
"Update on March 12, 2012: To assist victims affected by the DNSChanger malicious software, the FBI obtained a court order authorizing the Internet Systems Consortium (ISC) to deploy and maintain temporary clean DNS servers. This solution is temporary, providing additional time for victims to clean affected computers and restore their normal DNS settings. The clean DNS servers will be turned off on July 9, 2012, and computers still impacted by DNSChanger may lose Internet connectivity at that time."
Good news: the creeps were arrested months ago.
Good news: Internet Service Providers were notified and have had months to take action to protect their users.
Good news: the FBI also provided a combination of websites and step-by-step instructions we can use easily to check our computers.
The threat is not exclusive to PC users. Macsters were vulnerable, too. I'm just guessing but assume that means other operating systems may also have been vulnerable to compromise.
It's important to note, also, that unsecured in-home/office routers may also have been compromised.
Read the whole report at the FBI website, then follow the useful links they've provided. The two most important are:
- Learn more about DNSChanger malware and how it can affect your computer
- Check your computer’s DNS settings
"Six Estonian nationals have been arrested and charged with running a sophisticated Internet fraud ring that infected millions of computers worldwide with a virus and enabled the thieves to manipulate the multi-billion-dollar Internet advertising industry. Users of infected machines were unaware that their computers had been compromised—or that the malicious software rendered their machines vulnerable to a host of other viruses."
"Update on March 12, 2012: To assist victims affected by the DNSChanger malicious software, the FBI obtained a court order authorizing the Internet Systems Consortium (ISC) to deploy and maintain temporary clean DNS servers. This solution is temporary, providing additional time for victims to clean affected computers and restore their normal DNS settings. The clean DNS servers will be turned off on July 9, 2012, and computers still impacted by DNSChanger may lose Internet connectivity at that time."
Good news: the creeps were arrested months ago.
Good news: Internet Service Providers were notified and have had months to take action to protect their users.
Good news: the FBI also provided a combination of websites and step-by-step instructions we can use easily to check our computers.
The threat is not exclusive to PC users. Macsters were vulnerable, too. I'm just guessing but assume that means other operating systems may also have been vulnerable to compromise.
It's important to note, also, that unsecured in-home/office routers may also have been compromised.
Read the whole report at the FBI website, then follow the useful links they've provided. The two most important are:
- Learn more about DNSChanger malware and how it can affect your computer
- Check your computer’s DNS settings
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Last edited by patricej; 04-24-2012 at 01:46 AM.
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