Should You Be Worried About July 9?
Should You Be Worried About July 9?
A widespread computer virus may show itself one last time on Monday, preventing thousands of PCs — and Macs — from accessing the Web. Known as the DNSChanger virus, the computer bug has struck before, leaving nearly 4 million people without Internet access previously.
Tech experts are advising people to make sure their computers are malware-free and “DNS settings are nominal.” TechSpot suggests visiting the following Web site to see if your computer has been infected with DNSChanger.
In 2011, the FBI shut down numerous computer servers and arrested several individuals who were responsible for creating the DNSChanger. By shutting down the servers, however, anyone who was already had an infected computer that was configured to a DNS server no longer could access the Internet since the server no longer existed.
As such, the FBI solicited the Internet Systems Consortium, a non-profit organization, to keep DNS operating in a secured environment for those infected users so they would still be able to access the Internet. But the organization will stop providing its service to infected users on Monday, possibly leaving some unknowingly still-infected users in the dark when it comes to accessing the Internet.
The DNSChanger virus, when controlled by hackers, would feed “infected users with profitable ads, phishing attempts, and malware,” TechSpot reports.
If you discover your computer has been infected with the virus, you can find more information about how to remove the virus from your computer at DCWG.org.
Source: “Hundreds of thousands may lose Web access July 9 due to virus,” TechSpot (July 5, 2012)
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