Government

The FBI Could Cut Your Internet Access in Four Days (Here’s How to Prevent It)

WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — For months now, the FBI has been warning people that a blackout of their access to the Internet could be coming.  The warnings about the Internet problem have been splashed across Facebook and Google, and Internet service providers have sent notices as well.

But tens of thousands of Americans may still lose their Internet service Monday unless they do a quick check of their computers for malware that could have taken over their machines more than a year ago.

The Blaze has covered the story a couple times, first stating the FBI would shut off Internet access to computers still infected as of March and later reported the extension the clean-up period until July 9.

Despite repeated alerts, the number of computers that probably are infected is more than 277,000 worldwide, down from about 360,000 in April. Of those still infected, the FBI believes that about 64,000 are in the United States.

Users whose computers are still infected Monday will lose their ability to go online, and they will have to call their service providers for help deleting the malware and reconnecting to the Internet.

To check whether a computer is infected, users can visit a website run by the group brought in by the FBI: http://www.dcwg.org. This link also provides resources for how to “disinfect” your computer should the malware be found on it. As the Blaze has reported before, the FBI has said fixing the problem will be much harder once your access to the Internet is cut off.

FBI to Kill Internet Access to Malware Infected Computers on July 9

The check takes less than 15 seconds. If you're not infected, the screen shown to you will have a green background, like the image above. (Image: DCWG.org)

The problem began when international hackers ran an online advertising scam to take control of more than 570,000 infected computers around the world. When the FBI went in to take down the hackers late last year, agents realized that if they turned off the malicious servers being used to control the computers, all the victims would lose their Internet service.

In a highly unusual move, the FBI set up a safety net. They brought in a private company to install two clean Internet servers to take over for the malicious servers so that people would not suddenly lose their Internet.

But that temporary system will be shut down at 12:01 a.m. EDT Monday, July 9.

Most victims don’t even know their computers have been infected, although the malicious software probably has slowed their Web surfing and disabled their antivirus software, making their machines more vulnerable to other problems.

But popular social networking sites and Internet providers have gotten more involved, reaching out to computer users to warn of the problem.

Check out this animation to see the number of infections spread per hour during a given time-frame:

According to Tom Grasso, an FBI supervisory special agent, many Internet providers are ready for the problem and have plans to try to help their customers. Some, such as Comcast, already have reached out.

FBI to Kill Internet Access to Malware Infected Computers on July 9

Number of computers still infected by country as of June 11, 2012. (Image: DCWG.org)

The company sent out notices and posted information on its website. Because the company can tell whether there is a problem with a customer’s Internet server, Comcast sent an email, letter or Internet notice to customers whose computers appeared to be affected.

Grasso said other Internet providers may come up with technical solutions that they will put in place Monday that will either correct the problem or provide information to customers when they call to say their Internet isn’t working. If the Internet providers correct the server problem, the Internet will work, but the malware will remain on victims’ computers and could pose future problems.

In addition to individual computer owners, about 50 Fortune 500 companies are still infected, Grasso said.

Both Facebook and Google created their own warning messages that showed up if someone using either site appeared to have an infected computer. Facebook users would get a message that says, “Your computer or network might be infected,” along with a link that users can click for more information.

Google users got a similar message, displayed at the top of a Google search results page. It also provides information on correcting the problem.

The site includes links to respected commercial sites that will run a quick check on the computer, and it also lays out detailed instructions if users want to actually check the computer themselves.

Comments (224)

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  • Bryansblog
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:12am

    You all need to settle down a little the government is not nearly as smart as you give them credit for, they are not dumb but they are smarter than a lot of dumb people! How many people voted for the current President

     
    • SquareHead
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:50am

      Obama is pretty obvious, but the fact is that we have had an inept congress and senate for years, and the idiot voters keep sending the same people back, as we just saw with Orrin Hatch and Charlie Rangle etc..

      The primaries is the most important election, but few show up to toss out the Statist that occupy not only the Democratic party but half or the Republicans as well, and we only have a very small number of officials that are friends of liberty, and anti globalist.

       
    • The-Monk
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:07pm

      My advice at present is to not go to the link. Download and run ComboFix (it’s the second button- blue and not the first button-yellow). http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/combofix/

      The owner of the website link “dcwg.org” is Barry Greene, 11692 Westshore Court Cupertino, California. 95014 (I’m not going to post his phone # or e-mail address} It was created 04-Nov-2011 19:06:39 UTC.

      Most computers ARE infected with some kind of malware. After running ComboFix, which most likely will reboot your PC a few times, give it one more reboot. The download and run Malwarebytes, http://www.malwarebytes.org/ (the download button not the buy button). When one first run it, after it’s installed and updated, select “decline” then do a full scan. When it’s done click on the button on the low right, then “fix now’.

      If you want a really good anti-virus get F-Secure Internet Security, http://www.f-secure.com/en/web/home_global/home you can also run their cleanup toll at http://www.f-secure.com/en/web/labs_global/removal/easy-clean.

      I’ll be back with further info.

      The-Monk  
    • Constantine Ivanov
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:24pm

      It depends on what you call “dumb”.
      In terms of common language, it’s hard to call Steven Jobs or Bill Gate or Rupert Murdoch or George Soros “dumb”, but all of them voted for the Disaster-in-Chief. Not only voted, but gave him huge money to make him win.
      So, it’s not a simple “black-and-white,“ ”dumb-or-smart” issue, it’s something drastically different.
      To me who lived under Commies 50 years, all those who vote for anything Commie-like are idiots, but my language is pretty different: it is heavily affected by my hatred for Bolsheviks.

      Constantine Ivanov  
    • BearMtBiker
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:41pm

      The Monk‘s links are good but I’ll add a few; Antivirus: Avast! free version is awesome, have used it for years. Bot-search: Spybot Search and Destroy is a must, also used for years. Utility: CCleaner is a very useful toolbox of goodies I picked up last year, also a free version. Run ‘em every week and you won’t be sorry and your machine will be a happy one.

      BearMtBiker  
    • BlackCrow
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:56pm

      The NSA and FBI cyber units are the best in the business.

      BlackCrow  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:59pm

      For those hear that know how to edit the “Registry” of their Windows based computers go here:
      (or you can just read what this malware does) Also, DNS is what changes the website “words” into IP “numbers” to make a connection.

      http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/dnschang.shtml

      The-Monk  
    • 65Plus
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:16pm

      The FBI is under Holder. QED.

      65Plus  
    • RIDEMODELS
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:50pm

      GOT UBUNTU??….Probably is just a ping to the DNS and other internet providers have shut off service due to malware before….Use malwarebytes daily and crapcleaner too…..Click on an FBI related link?……They can just get your info out of the cloud….Oh yeah I don’t know of anyone that uses the CLOUD…..Almost everyone I know are under Gov. contract now….WWJD??

       
    • Atlanticgrl
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 4:49pm

      @ Squarehead…you really think elections are not rigged? You really believe all the current politicians got there on votes alone? Give your head a shake. Our voting system is a SCAM. Obitler is going to win and not because dumb people will vote him back, but because Husseinny won’t take his chances on loosing because of silly archaic freedom/tradition like voting.

       
    • georgepatton
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 4:50pm

      Too damn many!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

       
    • TheNaphets
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 6:38pm

      As sated in article, a private company was brought in to set up 2 clean servers. uhHmmm… try 32 rows of servers at a datacenter.

       
    • Vader234
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 7:52pm

      @ The-Monk

      Should I click on a link from a random person who I don’t know? How do I know it won’t give me a virus like DNSChanger? Why should I trust you more than the FBI?

       
    • anomnomnommm
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:23pm

      @MONK

      Why is the guy’s name important?

       
    • jingo455
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 12:10am

      You know you are wrong. Bush for example was a genius. It just helps to look like a moron when you are starting unconstitutional wars, because then for some reason everyone acts like Cheney made the decisions because they can’t fathom the “moron” making wicked decisions.

      If you look truly intelligent then people will expect you knew better when you made your decisions and it’s easier for people to make the jump from “he’s just a naughty boy“ to ”he’s wickedly devious” and that’s the ONE thing democracy never wants people to figure out about their politicians.

      It’s hilarious how in American democracy, if a politician denies cheating, nobody believes him, but if an intelligent protestor claims that same politician were a murderous maniac, nobody believes them. America draws this strange imaginary line to their politicians’ level of wickedness, and somehow believes no politician would cross that line (forgetting many, like FDR/Lincoln crossed it decades ago and didn’t have a million intelligence agents at their disposal to cover things up).

      I just have to say, do you really think that 1 million intelligence agents at MEINE HOMELAND security aren’t doing anything? They just sit idle?

      jingo455  
    • Mil Mom
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 12:38am

      @Constantine Ivanov
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:24pm

      It depends on what you call “dumb”.
      In terms of common language, it’s hard to call Steven Jobs or Bill Gate or Rupert Murdoch or George Soros “dumb”, but all of them voted for the Disaster-in-Chief. Not only voted, but gave him huge money to make him win.
      So, it’s not a simple “black-and-white,“ ”dumb-or-smart” issue, it’s something drastically different.
      To me who lived under Commies 50 years, all those who vote for anything Commie-like are idiots, but my language is pretty different: it is heavily affected by my hatred for Bolsheviks
      ***
      All my life I’ve heard, “There’s a fine line between Genius and Brain Damage. My brother IS a genius, AND HE VOTES STRAIGHT LINE DEM AND PARROTS THE TALKING POINTS. Genius in electronics NOT life!

      Mil Mom  
    • jewel4america
      Posted on July 8, 2012 at 12:01pm

      how many people voted for the current president???? TOO MANY.. I don’t quite get your point.. don’t look here people.. just keep moving?
      This is not about dumb… there are a lot of dumb.. and more ‘ignorant’ out there..WE MUST ALWAYS BE INVOLVED IN OUR OWN LIVES.. and OUR COUNTRY.. or we will not have one.. THE LIBERALS WOULD LIKE YOU NOT TO PAY ATTENTION..
      by the way.. are you one of them?

      jewel4america  
  • ICanComment
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:01am

    Please, please — whomever is assigning headlines to these stories, “FBI Could Cut Your Internet Monday” is rather misleading. The FBI is NOT disconnecting your Internet, nor is this an Internet “kill switch.” A lot of novices or non technical people will assume the worst. To me this constitutes sensationalism and it undermines the very reason people turn to the Blaze for news. It just goes to show you – question everything you read.

    However, kudos to Liz on the content of this story, which is much less misleading than prior stories pertaining to the same subject matter.

     
    • dogpatch65
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:05am

      You’ve got more than this to worry about when it comes to Internet cut-offs:

      http://markamerica.com/2012/07/05/talk-is-always-cheaper/

       
    • Bloody Sam
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:06am

      So…I’m going to click on a link to a Gubmint sponsored site to let them “scan” my PC for some alleged malware?
      Huh. Right.
      No thanks. I am confident my Linux OS PC with hardware and software firewalls, proxy server using TOR is quite free of any nasties.
      The NSA can go pee up a rope.

      Bloody Sam  
    • troymac20
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:24am

      @ Bloody Sam
      My thoughts exactly.

      troymac20  
    • antiencenom
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:26am

      Well I can commie,us beckies are so thankful you like the story,now stay out of it.It being my computer.Ps you are loosing.

      antiencenom  
    • theshoehorn
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:59am

      Exactly. This is more of a scare tactic than anything. The internet will be perfectly fine, those infected just won’t be able to resolve a name to an IP address. And no, the site to go to isn’t going to scan your computer… it checks the DNS resolution capabilities. Oh, and it’s a completely separate private entity having nothing to do with any government.

       
    • buck762
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:42pm

      @Bloody Sam
      I am glad to hear someone other than myself is using linux. No where in the story does it mention that these are more than likely M$ Windoze systems running IE6. I would be glad (hopefully you are as well) tell/inform people/users to use linux. Unlikely this would have happened even without TOR or any other proxy/firewall solution on a linux box. I actually think it‘s kinda funny and also sad people still use ’90s technology.

       
    • scruffycat
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:40pm

      It sounds like these computers have all had a rootkit installed into them and they are now Bots on somebody’s Botnet. Once a computer gets infected and added like a zombie to somebody’s private Botnet your computer is no longer under your control. It may seem like its still your computer, but it is now somebody elses computer that they are in control of. The bottized zombie computer knows how to phone home and give its owner its newly infected IP address. Only now the FBI has taken the IP address of the hackers where the bots would phone home to and are in posession of it and have setup their own server for these bots and new infected bots to phone home to. So instead of the hackers being inside of your computer using it for credit card scams or denial of service attacks against websites, or hate spewing anonymous email campains, instead of that, now you have the FBI secretly inside of your computer, controlling it. Able to watch every keystroke. Able to disable your computer using the very trojan or virus that the hackers put in there and they are now in control of. And the feds are going to blow up all these computers on Monday?

      scruffycat  
  • 9111315
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:36am

    Some people have had a virus/malware on their computer for a year and the FBI has maintained a patch to keep them on line for this last year.

    Now when the FBI is ready to disconnect that last rouge DNS, they are claimed for cutting Internet access.

    Reminds me of the people who tried to stay in FEMA trailers for 5 years.

    Hay Blaze, how about a story on how stupid people fail to take responsibility for themselves-then they blame the government.

     
    • SLAPTHELEFT
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 7:11pm

      I see those stories all the time. Where the hell have you been? I see everyday when people swipe the ebt at the convenience store. Or when i pay 50% of my property taxes to pay for a title 1 school. Or when my taxes go to pay for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for students whose parents get food stamps.

      We can play this game all day my friend and im more than willing to do so. Why dont you exercise some common sense… Or hey… Why dont you start your own site where you can write the stories?

      Oh yeah, that’d be more work than complaining, i forgot.

      SLAPTHELEFT  
    • Redwood Elf
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 7:33pm

      “rouge” DNS? I wasn’t aware you could MAKE a DNS out of face makeup…

      In any case, anyone dumb enough to NOT have at least something like Malwarebytes Antimalware (Totally free, and cleans up most Malware) on their system deserves whatever happens.

      Redwood Elf  
  • Shamrock241
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:24am

    @2012HEY On July10th i will accept your apology for calling us IDIOTS for not trusting Obamas regime. Sadly you cannot say the site‘s you recommend have not been corrupted by soro’s money and are in alligence with obama or the NWO (pick your poison) Of course the FBI will anticipate people not trusting them so they will have already made dealing with these other site’s. Again sad but true, what a world we live in now.

     
    • Pontiac
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:58am

      [The Blaze has covered the story a couple times, first stating the FBI would shut off Internet access to computers still infected as of March and later reported the extension the clean-up period until July 9.]

      The blaze keeps reporting this because they fear they will loose a majority of their god-fearing lowbrow idiot posters but in their efforts they just spook their EVERYTHING’S A CONSPIRACY theorist…

      Pontiac  
    • SLAPTHELEFT
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:57am

      Pontiac

      Pretty stupid post, but its no surprise. Lets see- conspiracy theory- more than one person acting in concert to enact a certain outcome- and someone exposes it, thus the theory. Its not the exact definition, but its probably much easier for YOU to understand.

      That being said, this story is not theory. Its full of facts. So explain the conpiracy theory? Is that the new “racist”? Just throw the term around in order to avoid explanations? How much money did you borrow to learn rules for radicals at that crappy college you went to?

      Couldve just checked out that piece o’ crap from the local library. Heres a consporacy theory- george soros uses his money to keep losers like you employed- fighting to have their shackles put back on, all the while feeling as though they are part of something they cannot touch,feel, or see.

      SLAPTHELEFT  
    • jaylew
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 1:51am

      @Pontiac..you need to know this and a couple of other posters here do as well. The internet is as close to a living breathing entity as mankind has ever developed. It has legs and arms and backbones. Yes some people have tried to infect the internet for their own nefarious purposes .child porn….the theft of identity related numbers and accounts and the stealing that often accompanies such theft. But the bottom line is this. The Internet is here to stay. Neither the FBI or any other single or co-mingled asset…governmental or otherwise can kill the Internet. They can take down websites and domains & in 15 seconds…a replacement identical site simply appears elsewhere. They can monitor network traffic yes indeed…but so can the Florida State Cops do the same thing with every interstate highway in Florida…& yet cars fill the highways every single day. The Internet is worldwide & in fact this country…the United States has among the poorest connectivity & median bandwidths of any civilized nation. Former Soviet Union countries have better & faster internet access than we do as a nation. I abhor the notion of the FBI or the NSA snooping into or around my internet usage…I really do….but the blame for that can be placed at the feet of our nations enemies….would you want the wireless connection to the ER from the ambulance you ride in with a stopped heart….disrupted because of some Network terrorist? Me either. The enemy is trying to make the internet ill.

      jaylew  
    • madasblazes
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 2:38am

      The MONK has not steered me wrong, yet.

      You know how MAD I am!

      I’ve been here from the beginning of the Blaze.

      Thanks again Monk.

       
  • BeingThere
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:15am

    Let’s see was it the devil, dracula or both that can’t enter your house unless you invite them in????

    Which side are you on Blaze??? LOL

    BeingThere  
    • Alex Corn
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 1:32pm

      I don’t even remotely understand what you just said.

      By visiting the checker site, you are NOT allowing the government “into” your computer. Rather, you‘re allowing them to check if you’re accessing the Internet through THEIR servers (which are the ones they’re shutting down, and are the ones that your access was switched to if you got the malware). It doesn’t scan anything.

       
  • Starknerd
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:09am

    Oh shut up already. It’s a DNS check you neophytes! It does nothing to your computer because it DOESN’T HAVE TO CHECK THAT FAR!!!!!!!!!! Paranoia does nobody any good.

     
    • mikenleeds
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:27am

      NEWS Flash Mr. know it all , am in the business and everything you do and ever will do on your computer is recorded on your hard-drive and can not be deleted ever,
      plus search engine like GOOGLE,Yahoo etc. records all of your history for years so the government knows all,
      you may be able to cover up your history to hide those porn sites you ve been visiting from your wife but you can t hide anything from big brother fool

      mikenleeds  
    • ICanComment
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:56am

      @Mike

      “am in the business and everything you do and ever will do on your computer is recorded on your hard-drive and can not be deleted ever”

      “Ever?” What if you wipe the drive or the empty space on the drive? It’s not that difficult with the right software. Not a personal attack or anything — I’m just saying… You’re right though, in that most people’s hard drives would provide most of the information you allege.

      “plus search engine like GOOGLE,Yahoo etc. records all of your history for years so the government knows all,”

      True in most cases, but there are ways around this. (e.g. Mask your IP with Tor, clear all cookies and disable tracking via Do Not Track Plus) It’s not 100% foolproof, but it does make the job of tracking you very difficult.

      “but you can t hide anything from big brother fool”
      I mostly agree, but it can be done with some effort and knowledge.

       
    • Starknerd
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 2:43pm

      @Mike

      That’s three separate and unrelated issues, Mr. In The Business. Stick to the topic. But to yours, I’ve been a Professional Nerd for over 20 years, written countless zeros to hard drives, spoof mac addresses at random and hide through IP addresses at will. And my wife left me for another woman as ridiculous as you!

       
    • Nvrat
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:36pm

      Paranoia strikes deep, into your heart it will creep–

       
  • Fonz777
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:08am

    I‘m from the government and I’m here to help….right

    Fonz777  
  • redbone007
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:05am

    So if the FBI know of 64,000 that still may be infected, then they should know which computer. So millions need to have their computer scan by the government to save 64,000 computers.

    redbone007  
    • Shamrock241
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:30am

      Redbone is correct if they know 64,000 pc‘s are infected in the US than they should be able to locate the IP’s of these pc’s and notify these individuals, not ask the entire country to submit there computer to a scan.

       
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:50am

      Exactly Shamrock!

      ChiefGeorge  
    • buck762
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:44pm

      I smell a rat

       
    • klg1956
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:00pm

      Kind of like 250,000,000 Americans have health care coverage and 40 million (most illegal aliens) Americans don’t so we are going to crap up your 250,000,000 health care policies for a “single payer government system” because those “private” health care companies won‘t be able to compete so the gov’t will have to take them over–govt run health care companies now–and those board of directors and those govt panels will be untouchable….no recourse for any decision….so that those 40 million mostly illegals who could have obtained free health care at any “free” clinic, or “free” county hospital or “emergency room” for their emergencies will now be able to have “free” health care where the gov’t deems appropriate provided by “your” taxes being increased to pay for not only your gov’t health care insurance but theirs too because they will qualify for govt subsidies”…it’s worded Exchanges & Premium Subsidies…..and think of this, not just “illegal” alien Mexicans and illegal alien Canadians and illegal alien Russians but illegal alien Middle Eastern terrorists too coming legally with “Obama Dream Act Nightmare” that we will be taxed heavily for blowing you up all across America coming soon if we tire, coming soon if we falter, coming soon if we fail!

       
    • Mil Mom
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 12:55am

      @Shamrock241
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:30am

      Redbone is correct if they know 64,000 pc‘s are infected in the US than they should be able to locate the IP’s of these pc’s and notify these individuals, not ask the entire country to submit there computer to a scan.
      ****
      Can’t help but think of that big secretive FBI computer city in the desert. That said, my son bought me a different computer from someone he knew. Supposedly wiped clean but I’ve found all kinds of goodies, that malware is believable. I’ll trust the Monk before the FBI any day!

      Mil Mom  
  • billrow
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:04am

    Yeah right I’m going to use some govt website to scan my computer.

    I wasn’t born yesterday.

     
  • 2012hey
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:41am

    Blaze – your headline is completely wrong and misleading – really makes me sick that you are so untruthful just to get clicks. THE FBI IS NOT GOING TO CUT YOUR ACCESS – ACTUALLY THEY HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING ACCESS FOR AT LEAST A YEAR TO COMPENSATE FOR SOME MALICIOUS SOFTWARE THAT INFECTED COMPUTERS. BLAZE – YOU LIE

     
    • BlackCrow
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:54am

      This is very real and has the possibility of disrupting traffic on the Internet. I am an IT professional I know this to be a real threat and the big routers that direct the world wide data traffic need to be protected from this virus. If you don’t trust the FBI fine, go to http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html download and run this program. This is a German developer that has been doing this for years for free as a service to the Internet community. He has nothing to do with any government anywhere.

      BlackCrow  
    • KAWLME
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:09am

      Thank You Blackcrow for the information. My computer is infected with something recently hoping this will finally clean out the virus. MacAffee is not picking it up.

      KAWLME  
    • lfoa
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:22am

      While technically not a lie….
      It surely is a headline ment to ‘grab eyeballs’ !

      To “The Blaze” staff: Please exercise a bit more editorial restraint.

       
    • Pearsontech
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:28am

      @Kawlme You might also try doing a spyware scan with Malwarebytes (free download at malwarebytes.org) and also try doing a search for a tool called Combofix (free download hosted on bleepingcomputer.com) Sometimes though the only way to get rid of a really nasty one is to boot the system up into an alternate OS like using BartPE or another PE disk solution and running the scans from there, but I would try those other two programs first. I personally don’t like McAfee much. I like AVAST antivirus software… free download as well at http://www.avast.com

       
    • SLAPTHELEFT
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 6:41pm

      2012hey

      Thank you for your neverending quest for truth.

      Im just gonna shoot over to the huffpo and media matters so i can see some more of your brilliant exposure of “the lies.”

      SLAPTHELEFT  
    • Mil Mom
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 1:10am

      @PearsonTech

      re: I like Avast free antivirus…
      ****
      The computer my son bought came with Avast pre-installed. I love Iolo System Mechanic which has computer tools AND antivirus and firewall software. I had another year on my subscription so tried to uninstall the Avast. Windows 7 uninstall can’t do it and there is NO uninstall on the software, I tried to disable it and put my Sys. Mech. on anyway, but it keeps shutting it down and though I’m doing college on line, it will suddenly lock up the computer and taskmanager shows it’s the Avast doing it. All I can do is re-boot and then re-enable my Sys Mech. My college professor is a computer geek and she went looking, the only place we can find the exe file for Avast is in the Task manager when it’s running. We were deep in the bowels of the system and disabling everything we found, it still comes on, task manager tells me I don’t have accesss to shut it down. AVAST IS AS BAD AS A VIRUS IF YOU DON’T WANT IT!

      Mil Mom  
    • jaylew
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 1:21am

      As long as Eric Holder is the de facto head of the FBI or at least a person who can direct their actions….there is a concern…. Any of you who have read my many many prior posts know that I am a person employed by Uncle Sam and yes I am an IT and network specialist and have been for decades.
      BLACKCROW provides some very sound advice above by suggesting the use of SPYBOT by Safer-Networking…..you just want to make sure to install it from their site and not the first link you come across in a Google search. A well maintained SPYBOT application is an invaluable tool. And it is free but the guy does take donations and users should consider doing just that. Linux or MAC OS machines are hardly immune to networking probes so don’t let Linux delude you into thinking all is well in river city….in fact a keen Unix programmer can own your Linux machine in a heartbeat and yes…the federal government does have some keen men and women who do nothing but that all day long. The US government is pretty busy these days protecting their own networked assets and so I can say with certainty that leaves little time to devote assets to “us” constitutional based thinking persons….it is the chinese, the russians…and more than a few crafty fundamental islamists that the FBI and other national security assets are after….and yes I am concerned about that….but my concern about the enemies of this country is far far greater. FBI agents are not all bad guys…seriously.

      jaylew  
    • Pearsontech
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 3:07pm

      @ Mil Mom
      Sorry your seem to be having issues with AVAST however I have used it for years and for myself and installed on numerous clients computers and have never had issues with removing it when needed. I have been doing computer tech work for over 20 years. Me thinks your issues are being caused by something else, but of course I really couldn’t tell without actually looking at your system and whats happening. As for killing the process out of memory your results don’t surprise me. A good AV is not supposed to be able to have its processes killed from memory easily.

       
  • Nemo13
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:41am

    Um, does the government want to ‘check’ my system, or ‘infect’ it with their own malware? Never trust the government. Its not like they have experts.

     
    • kaydeebeau
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:01am

      That was my thought exactly…..

      kaydeebeau  
    • Smiley Face
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:21pm

      My sentiments exactly.

       
    • walkintruth
      Posted on July 8, 2012 at 8:22pm

      They already track what you do. I am also suspicious of their motives. Eric Holder is up to his neck in deceiving this country. It is hard to trust the FBI or any other government run organization. Here is a warning to those who are on Facebook. The CIA is tracking your life on Facebook everyday. All they have to do is read your information and see where you have been to know everything about you. They know your friends and family just reading what you post on Facebook. They are tracking you through many other means.

       
  • TRILO
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:40am

    Thanks FBI for the offer but I will take my chances rather than let you look at my computer.

    TRILO  
    • BlackCrow
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:45am

      Then download and run spybot http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html It’s free and it will clean your system. It is a German developer who does this as a service for web users, he is not affiliated with any government.

      BlackCrow  
  • 2012hey
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:37am

    Ummmmm…. it is not the FBI that might cut your Internet – wow this article is borderline criminal to imply such! Makes me wonder about the other articles on The Blaze. The FBI actually PRESERVED Internet access for over a year to compensate for a piece of malware that infected millions of computers and made them route through their own servers. The FBI setup their own servers to support the infected computers so they would NOT lose Internet and now they are shutting those down and they have given PLENTY of notice. Blaze – report the truth not hysterics!!!!!!!!

     
    • Rob
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:23am

      You still here?

       
    • thop1960
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 11:49am

      @ENCINOM,

      Nice try. The average BLAZE reader is probably higher educated than you. I have a masters degree and seeking a second. How about you?

      thop1960  
    • hatchetjob
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:45pm

      2012HEY, Yawn……..

      hatchetjob  
    • buck762
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:48pm

      @ ECOCON or whatever your mother calls you
      Mine is in Computer Science, how about you.

       
    • jaylew
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 2:24pm

      @Encinom……I would submit that dropping out of one of your inner city high schools is actually a good thing. The less time spent in one of those hell holes the better….but as always…the liberal arrogance and smarter than thou spew simply has to continue to dribble from your keyboard mouth….your keyboard Encinom….the one that has more genetic material and DNA stuck between its shift key and Num lock buttons…than even the most grisly serial rapist crime scene to ever grace an episode of Miami CSI…..in fact the only thing that lights up in your room a deeper shade of purple than your keyboard…..are those nasty bed sheets you haven’t changed in months. Prince probably coined the song Purple Rain after doing a quick walk through of your futon infested liberal man cave….now go watch something on the Spike TV channel and make another in-house hand held fireworks display like you did last night. You freaking NBMLA regional officer.

      jaylew  
    • SLAPTHELEFT
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 6:58pm

      Jlew

      Thats funny as hell!!! Futon infested man cave.. HahahahahA! Thats how you smack the taste out of these losers mouths. I can barely type from my laughing.

      Encinom you just got owned. Jlew is now your master.

      SLAPTHELEFT  
    • SLAPTHELEFT
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 7:05pm

      Jlew

      You forgot the blacklight, lava lamp, and grateful dead poster. The mini fridge, microwave, and tv tray. The star wars dolls, dirty sock pile, and empty vaseline jars.

      We could do this all day. I love alinsky’ing encinom.

      SLAPTHELEFT  
    • Mr Sanders
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 2:45pm

      Truth Squad is here….

      Mr Sanders  
  • Treaty
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:35am

    No flippin way I’m participating in this trial. This is bull crap.

    Treaty  
    • Treaty
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 3:07pm

      2012HEY, you have to have your head firmly planted in your rear to not see this as a trial.

      Treaty  
    • Mil Mom
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 1:19am

      @Treaty
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:35am

      No flippin way I’m participating in this trial. This is bull crap
      ****
      Hey! Do I hear an undersecretary for eric holder?

      Mil Mom  
  • acovenantinblood
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:26am

    They have a word for this sort of thing. Beta testing.

    acovenantinblood  
    • BlackCrow
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:41am

      Beta testing would not have done anything for this. This is a bot that spoofs DNS servers. This thing gets out on the net it could cause all sorts of routing problems. Your e-mail will probably end up timing out and disappearing all together.

      Just run the check and everybody should be running a good anti-spyware program like spybot in addition to their anti-virus.

      BlackCrow  
    • PeepsRepublikofKalifornia
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:34pm

      Blackcrow, do you really think that it is reasonable to link a site that will “solve the problem?” Following such advise from self avowed computer gurus infected my computer 3 times in a year. Since you know so much, how about directing us to well known brands that will provide a solution? Such a Avast, McAfee, Norton, Kaspersky or other recognizable vendors. Not an unknown, to most of us, who is possibly sitting in his mother’s basement playing the Kevin Smith character in “Live Free or Die Hard.”

      PeepsRepublikofKalifornia  
    • jaylew
      Posted on July 8, 2012 at 3:37pm

      @PEEPS…….

      Safer Networking’s Product Spybot has been downloaded from CNET…a rather popular and well trusted source of software……are you ready for this????? Just under a hundred and twenty million times. That represents only CNETS‘s statistic’s on the SPYBOT application. I would venture that
      SPYBOT is one of the most downloaded and well maintained malware, trojan, and PUP software platforms in world computing history. I do not mean to sound disrespectful to you….but if you have never heard of Safer-Networking’s SPYBOT……then methinks your Symantec subscription or McAfee home firewall is deliberately blocking the Safer-Networking domain(s) so you can continue to pay for their bloated crapware. BlackCrow’s free advice regarding this free SPYBOT software stands as excellent, sound and absolutely well heeled in both IT experience and home computer safety. Just because many governments…local state and federal use Symantec tools don’t let that fool you….many of the same governments use RIM Blackberry’s too….and that Canadian outfit is hovering just above being totally and completely bankrupt. I mean in a near “lights out” condition. Relying on that which is perceived to be or was once popular is often a risky approach. Ask General Motors….or better yet ask the former GM stockholders whose investments went straight down the crapper once this president was elected. I wouldn’t even touch Symantec stock….it just keeps tanking day after day.

      jaylew  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:26am

    …
    I’m looking for a different way to test for this virus. If there is no other way, I’ll take my chances.
    There’s only approx. sixty four thousand computers in America that may be infected, out of millions of computers.
    I don’t trust Government sites, now that Obama is in charge of the country.

     
    • actionjksn
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:24pm

      So you did trust them before obama? Yeah because everything was just fantastic before obama came along. You probably thought The Patriot Act was patriotic too huh? Yeah just keeping us safe.

       
  • bankerpapaw
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:23am

    Warning!! This is just a test until which time Obama gives the word to take away the rest of our
    freedoms.

     
    • castuslonginus
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 10:06am

      2012hey; it’s my computer,if I don’t want the fbi in it why should that bother you. if yours is safe have a coke and a smile andcarry on. thanks for your concern.

       
    • hatchetjob
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:48pm

      2012HEY, You are rude. So what if we lose internet service, big WHOOP!!!!

      hatchetjob  
  • Rob
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:13am

    Anything the American government says to do is questionable. I no longer trust the government. I think the “scan” might be a way for them to PUT something on my computer…not take something off.

    I watched a show on television this weekend that covered how the Revolutionary War was won…where in the heck did THAT government go? Those were good men.

     
  • TwoLazy
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:06am

    Say what? the FBI want’s to scan my computer? Really?

    No thanks .. I’ll take my chances with the virus, it is probably safer.

    TwoLazy  
    • 2012hey
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:45am

      Hey IDIOT – you can scan and clean your own computer with FREE NON-GOVERNMENT MALWAREBYTES SOFTWARE. If you have not done so by now – then you deserve to lose your Internet connection. The “government” actually HELPED people keep their Internet connection if they were infected by the DNSCHANGER malware.

       
  • Stoic one
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:03am

    Well when this first came out I went to the FBI’s site because I found multiple independent references about this crapware. My machine is clean according to the FBI.
    My concern like most of you is that now the FBI knows I exist.
    Furthermore, why could not the private sector have taken care of this?

    Stoic one  
    • AChatterer
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:28am

      Norton did

       
    • Stoic one
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:40am

      Well thank you… that’s news to me.
      So that being the case; we need the FBI for……………?

      Stoic one  
  • Wilma
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:58am

    Just checked and I am okay. The link provided refers user to several international links designed to check your computer. Nothing is downloaded.

    Wilma  
    • freedom_gurl35
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:45am

      Just because nothing is downloaded to your computer, doesn‘t mean it can’t be accessed.

      freedom_gurl35  
    • buck762
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:51pm

      Wilma, did you use a network traffic sniffer like “Wireshark” to make sure nothing was downloaded?

       
  • Apple Bite
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:52am

    Here’s the crux of the problem: We’re letting the FBI “check” our CPUs?

    What was it that the Government has been doing over the last many months now? SOPA and PIPA and what was the other one again? They’ve continued to undermine the citizens of this country by violating their privacy at will. And now we have to trust them and only them?

    I suppose my computer going down earlier this year was a blessing in disguise. Why I should trust the very people that could careless how I feel about them potentially having information about myself and my family, is beyond my comprehension. Would you hand a total stranger your wallet and say, “I’ll be right back, please make sure my money stays in my wallet…”?

    Because that‘s pretty much what I think they’re trying to get us to do… “Hand over your hard drives, we want to see what’s on them…”

    Fact of the matter is, I DON’T TRUST THESE COMMIE BASTARDS IN D.C.!!!1

    Apple Bite  
    • riseandshine
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:53am

      CISPA is the other one.

      riseandshine  
  • Slipstick
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:43am

    Tickles me that back in the “cash for clunkers” days, the fine print on the website said by applying to Rich Uncle online, the USG effectively OWNS your ‘pooter and all the data on it… Can’t believe so many folks fell for that scam.

    Slipstick  
  • ricckky
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:36am

    Has any one tried going to this site? I trust the Blaze–but as GOOCH7 states–I fear this liar in chief doesn’t have our best interest in mind!!!

     
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:50am

      I checked this warning out from European and Asian sources before our own Fed’s got wind of it; what I am wondering is if this thing may be some kind of sleeper set to go off on a certain date like the Michaelangelo virus or others of that ilk to cause massive disruptions in the internet services and technologies around the world.

      Of course mind you, i would never put it past Obama to have authorized such a attack on the very people of America to give him some excuse to gain control of the internet via a declared emergency to ‘prevent it from spreading’ or such rot.

      Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • 2012hey
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:52am

      Snowleopard – the malware has already “gone off” and infected millions of computers and the FBI was simply supporting the remaining infected computers and allowing people to continue having Internet access. The cutoff will only come to the people who are too stupid and lazy to do a malware scan that is freely available at a NON-GOVERNMENT site called malwarebytes dot com I can’t wait to see how many stupid people will lose their Internet access on July 9th.

       
    • hatchetjob
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 12:34pm

      2012HEY, We’re not “stupid and lazy”, we are wary. Big difference. And by not going to the FBI sight, what’s the worst that can happen… I’m taking a pass. Maybe going without internet is a good thing for a while.

      hatchetjob  
    • MEANS2RESIST
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 1:56pm

      Yea, never trusted barry from the minute he came on the scene, he’s a foreign operative…illegal as hell!

      Him & his ilk are up to something.

      MEANS2RESIST  
  • Gooch7
    Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:31am

    At this point in time, I would be concerned with anything this governement/administration asks me to do. As we have seen, they haven’t had Americans best interest at heart.

     
    • AmericanStrega
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:34am

      You got that right, Buddy! I’ll wait to see if I lose internet access before I trust the government to “check my computer” for malware. Even IF I lose access, I won’t let the government “check” my computer.

       
    • jcldwl
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 8:40am

      I agree. Remember never go where the government tells you to go. Look at it people. a whole 277,000 computers could be affected WORLDWIDE, but how many sheople will go to that website to let the government infect their computer just so they don’t have to be inconvenienced by a supposed malware threat. This has been done in the past too and don’t forget the H1N1 pandemic that never occurred and as soon as it started they already had a vaccine ready to inject into your body. No Thanks. I’ll take my chances with the malware and not the government.

      jcldwl  
    • thop1960
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 9:32am

      @JCLDWL,
      You got it right. I fraction of the people “might” be affected, yet they want “all” computers to get “checked” by the government? That smells fishy, and you’d be a fool to fall for this scare tactic. Even if the computer can’t access the internet on Monday, you can still fix it. This is a sly way for the government to access your computer’s information. Don’t fall for it.

      thop1960  
    • Redwood Elf
      Posted on July 5, 2012 at 7:36pm

      Actually, it’s not a government check…all it is, is a website with a pair of images on it…if a DNS redirection malware is messing with your system, it shows the one with the red background, showing that your connection was routed through one of the “bad” servers that the FBI still has running, otherwise it shows the one with the green background.

      Redwood Elf  
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