‘Internet Doomsday’: FBI Gives New Deadline to Disinfect Computer of Malicious Malware by July 9 or Else
- Posted on April 24, 2012 at 2:23pm by
Liz Klimas
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Earlier this year, we reported that any computer infected with a nasty piece of malware could be shunned from using the Internet by the feds. The deadline for that was March 8 but an extension was ordered to provide users with more time to clean up computers. Now, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has said all must be virus free by July 9 or be subject to was PC World calls “Internet doomsday.”
The malware is a piece called DNS Changer Trojan that was the work of six men from Estonia who were arrested and charged in 2011. The malware infected more than 4 million computers in 100 countries and is relatively easy to spread, hence why the government is ready to stop those with the virus from accessing the Internet.
(Related: Seven charged for infecting 4 million computers with ‘false advertising’ malware)
Individuals and companies have been working to scrub the malware from their systems but as of March at least one computer in half of all Fortune 500 companies was infected and more than two dozen government agencies had a carrier as well. PC world reports that estimates are more than 350,000 computers are still infected.
(Image: FBI Handout)
Before the July 9 deadline, consider checking to see if you have the malware here. If you don’t check and clean your computer before this deadline and end up without Internet access, PC World explains you’ll have to load the anti-virus software the old-fashioned way onto your drive through USB card or disc.
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Comments (72)
Paul
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 9:59pmSomething smells a lot worse than usual to me here…….
Report Post »kcinco
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 11:51pmYeah, like why does the FBI know our IP address?
Report Post »kcinco
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 11:54pmI guess I didn’t read this well enough…I worry about the times I’ve logged into the whitehouse.gov website. I’m sure they already have my IP address. Maybe time for a new OS.
Report Post »MAMMY_NUNN
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 1:08am@ kcinco
Report Post »A new OS won’t work as they are busy trying to shutdown Mac and Linux users by restricting software and hardware.
BigSky
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:23amThis has nothing to do with whatever operating system you’re using. This affects the domain name system inside the computer’s network architecture. The thousands of infected computers are accessing the internet through rogue servers that had been set up by the scammers and the FBI is shutting those servers down, which basically will look like the internet has been turned off for those who are infected. Because the rogue DNS servers will be offline and the infected computers can’t resolve internet addresses.
Report Post »jenniferludy
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 9:45pmIt’s pretty sad that I do not walk away from this story with a since of urgency to check my computer for this or any other virus. What I do walk away from this article asking is:
#1 – how does the government know that your computer is infected?
This would strongly insinuate (spelling -sorry) that the government is or has (or has acquired software that can) scan each and every computer for anything of their interest. NOT CONSTITUTIONAL! For starters, what about the freedom of speech. Next, how about searches without warrants. That’s just for starters.
#2 – what gives them the authority to restrict your internet access?
Are they referring to the Patriot bullcrap act?
The government has ZERO business intervening in this matter. The only thing they should do is NOTHING. The internet and viruses are like STD’s and sexually active people. IT cannot be controlled. Viruses are always going to be transmitted around the internet like sexually active people who knowingly or unknowingly transmit std’s to their partners. It’s a fact of life. You use the internet – take precautions. You have sex – take precautions. It’s not the governments job to restrict your use of the internet, just as they cannot restrict an individual from having sex.
Report Post »MAMMY_NUNN
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 10:20pmExcuse me but isn’t the route to a DNS controlled by the Internet Service Provider it seems to me it is their responsibility for the safety of their customers since they like to track and log your usage.
Report Post »DRAGONSEED
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 1:33amJennifer asked, “…how does the government know that your computer is infected?”
Exactly! This whole thing smells funny. And like the article says, if you find your machine is barred from access to Net, the big terrible outcome is that you might have to disinfect your machine all by yourself, with some archaic, primitive, troublesome USB stick disk! Quelle domage! LOL!
Report Post »Stephen Markovich
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 9:20pm***** u f b eye. who r u to determine first amend mnt comm streams? rite or wrong, lib or consvtve, Amerca exists cuz of amendmnts 1 n 2 . hence …***** u f b eye.
Report Post »Stephen Markovich
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 9:17pmis the story true?
Report Post »kegbuna
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 9:12pmThis story was already done on Russia Today, it should tell you something about its content. It’s alarmist. The trojan only redirects your computer to use an alternate DNS server. The FBI captured those servers and replaced them with their own boxes. They will be taking down the boxes soon and if you’re still infected, you will be unable to resolve any domains to ip addresses. Your network connectivity won’t even go down.
Report Post »BigSky
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 11:26amThe internet will appear to be down for those affected because without a DNS server in the connection chain, you can’t access the internet. So if your computer is infected and you try to go to GBTV’s website, you’ll end up with a “Server Not Available” error.
Report Post »Mary Just
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 8:57pmYou would have to be a complete idiot to believe anything this crooked corrupt government states. There will be millions shut off from the internet people mostly for telling the truth and voicing their opinion. This action proves 2 things. The first is that Americans are total cowards and and only an evil person would support this corrupt government.
Report Post »Amarath01
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 8:20pmUmm , FBI i would rather you not police my internet i am sure to do a better job myself.
Report Post »chuck_in_st_paul
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 7:59pmThese clowns are running a little late. April Fools’ Day was several weeks ago.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 7:50pmMy internal hardrive programming almost caused me the submit for the scanny thingy! Hold that enter button big feller.
Report Post »Todd P
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 7:20pmYeah….. I don‘t think I’m gonna put my DNS into that FBI thingy….. Nope, not gonna do that……
Report Post »MrKnowItAll
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 6:59pmOne reason this is being done. To get you to Voluntary hand over everything you do on your Computer. It’s a Big Lie. Sounds like how to you guide six million innocent people to their death without a Fight….Lie To Them.
Report Post »Bernice Durdan-Rowland
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 7:46pmYou got that right !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »South Philly Boy
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 6:37pmDon’t drop the soap
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 6:04pmSo—- A couple years to do there job and it’s still left up to the people. Isn’t this one of the prime responsibilities of Government? Not obamacare, not shrimp treadmills, not drunk ****** studies but Cyber attacks!
Report Post »EGsimi1776
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 5:55pmI would rather “Format C:, re-partition and then re-install” before having the FBI in, at, near, or around my machine; besides, its just nice to start with a fresh OS install about once a year.
Report Post »Pontiac
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 12:03am[before having the FBI in, at, near, or around my machine]
Report Post »Did you bother reading the article?
EGsimi1776
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 7:43pmmost certainly did, the DNS maleware reroutes you to a different server which is being shut down, the article however implies that the FBI will actively deny you access to the internet; which it wont, its just fixing the problem.
Generally my original post was simply a means to express my overall distrust of the FBI and most DOJ agencies with regards to individual rights, liberties and privacy. obviously I was a little too subtle.
Report Post »kindsoul
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 5:19pmNext they will round you up, send you to a “camp”, for your own protection. Then tell you to put your clothes into a pile and take a……….“shower”.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 5:14pmI let them check my DNS status….The Secret Service and three prostitutes knocked on my door.
Report Post »right-wing-waco
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 5:31pmThose were not prostitutes, those were liberals.
Report Post »……….. OH! same thing.
captaincameron
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 6:00pmRight Wing, you’re wrong.
Report Post »Prostitutes and liberals are not the same thing; liberals will screw you for free.
lukerw
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 7:43pmProstitutes give Pleasure… Liberals give STDs!
Report Post »right-wing-waco
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 9:11pmI stand corrected. You are so right.
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 12:46amLet me guess who….
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Hillary Clinton
And that fat black woman with the big mouth from Florida…all dressed in red with high heels.
How much were they charging?
Report Post »right-wing-waco
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 5:13pmWhat should happen to those that write & distribute computer virus’ and malware is to have the hands cut off and for starters. It’s no different than someone breaking into you house and smashing your computer with a hammer. How will the FBI know if I have the malware unless they come testing everyone online? Perhaps the listed site, that I refuse to go to, is a virus.!!!
Report Post »Dougral Supports Israel
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 5:23pmThey can see the IP addresses of affected computers hitting the rogue DNS servers that they took over. I don’t know that they are actively locking people out. I believe all they are doing is shutting down the rogue servers. When they do that, people with the DNS changer malware won’t get any DNS service and will be effectively dead on the Internet.
Report Post »THX-1138
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 5:02pmManual removal instructions from Kaspersky:
http://www.kaspersky.com/shadowbot
Enjoy.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 5:00pmIf my puter is infected I will wait for the release of the fix and load it myself thanks!
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 5:00pmso what.
Report Post »blazetoo
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 4:54pmOK, The Government is saving all of my emails that refer to a certain Democrat , Google is poking around and selling me stuff based on my supposedably personal searches (not private!) The Blaze freezes up my computer regularly due to others’ interference Why should I trust any of them?
Report Post »chazmo
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 5:22pmI thought it was just me…
Report Post »MittensKittens
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 6:15pmnever trust the geek!
Report Post »enraged8hobbit
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 7:06pmI have not seen any freezing of my computer and I am at this site for a few hrs daily. Perhaps it is because I use Firefox and not microsofts internet explorer.
Report Post »htowneric
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 4:54pmthis sounds like Y2K all over again
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 5:05pmSounds like, ” please load this spyware onto your computer so the FBI can see what you are up to when ever they want, without a warrant…”
Report Post »I don’t trust anything they say.
chazmo
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 5:23pm@Hidden I’m with you brother… I am not clicking on anything from the US Gov.
Report Post »Johnny Cocheroo
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 4:50pmWTF is this?
This a joke or something? Like hell am I going to start punching my computer information into FBI links. Think I’ll just lurk in the shadows.
Report Post »Patriot of My America
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 6:38pmPull the hard drive and ,go buy a new one. Screw the Geeks and the liberal reactionary Chicken Little’s.
Report Post »This is a bunch of propaganda if I ever heard it. One report was that the problem with in Internet Explorer. I have not used that server for over ten years. I have wiped it off my system. The Internet Explorer is the most viral malware trojan infected internet whore server there is. Any time my system was infected with Bugs it was while using the Corrupted Internet Explorer. And as far as what DNS servers are corrupted. I see no information regarding.what servers these dubious bastards are and why is that. Why does the FBI want to disconnect some people from the WWW> it is a teachable moment here Citizens. And where is all the Liberal Media coverage on this. Should Obummer make a Presidential Executive order and OUT LAW all servers that the FBI deems politically incorrect. I am guessing that the Infectious DNS servers are actually allowing the truth to be propagated on their servers. So now we have some disinformation and suddenly the FBI is granting an extension of the Dead Line to do what . Act like Sheeple and follow the rest of the Useful Idiots and download government approved malware removal programs. And then what is in the software. I do not trust any Federal Geek on this. It is to nefarious and cloaked in so much double speak I am unable to clearly understand the demand or warning.. Kind of like the IRS tax Code.. Ur duuuu..
lukerw
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 4:40pmSo… is the Disinfectant… a Malware… that works against the Trojan Malware… to shut down infected computers? Is the Government now in my Computer?
Report Post »merchantsailor
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 4:37pmSo I am supposed to trust the FBI huh? Yeh right……….
Report Post »Sh3LLz
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 4:54pm^ This!!!
Report Post »Pontiac
Posted on April 25, 2012 at 12:07amTrust them? If your computers infected, CLEAN IT! They’re not doing anything to your computer but shutting down the temp DNS server that infected computers are being routed too. If you‘re infected they’re already seeing what you‘re doing because you’re too stupid to fix your computer.
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