Its believed that the worm “Conficker” also known as “Downadup” or “Kido” has infected around 9.5 million the world according to  F-Secure’s chief research officer, Mikko Hypponen (src:BBC NEWS)

The worm’s payload is believed not to have been activated but if it is the person / group responsible for this would have full control over you computer with Administrator rights.

Microsoft’s Overview description of the vulnerability:
“A security issue has been identified that could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to compromise your Microsoft Windows-based system and gain control over it.“

If you have:

Windows 2000 SP4 then go here:Microsoft Security Update for Windows 2000 (KB958644)
Windows XP SP2 or SP3 then go here:Microsoft Security Update for Windows XP (KB958644)
Windows 2003 Server in any flavour then go here:Microsoft Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB958644)
Windows Vista / Vista SP1 then go here:Microsoft Security Update for Windows Vista (KB958644)
And finally if you are using the lovely Windows 7 Beta the go here:Microsoft Security Update for Windows 7 Pre-Beta (KB958644)

…download the patch and install (Will require a reboot)

Also remember that you will need to make sure your Anti-virus is up to date.

Some other things you can do to protect yourself are:

• Block all incoming and outgoing traffic on port 445 on computers connected to the net
• Disconnect it from any local area network as the worm can infect via Windows  file shares
• Scan all you hard disks and removable media (USB flash drives, Memory cards etc)
• Make sure your family and friends are aware of this threat and that they patch their computers and update their antivirus

Be vigilant, make sure you are patched and updated and you should be safe from this threat.

Right I’m off for a cup of rubbish tea from the vending machine. 

Well i have had my eee pc now for 2 weeks….i can’t be without it!

Last friday we were flashing firmware on switches where i work and even though we didnt use it to do this (we used a work laptop) it would have been ideal! You could just carry it up to the Cabinet where the switch it and work right there…. Yes most switches are software / web managed but sometimes (in our case because we have stacked netgear gig switches in our cabs we have to goto the cab physicaly!

Anyway my point is that i think every techi should have access to one of these because im sure there is atleast one thing in the eee pc’s neat little bundle that somone could find of use!

I love mine and my advice to anyone who is / has been thinking about getting one… PART WITH YOUR CASH !!! Its worth it (Provided you are preapaired to put xp on…) The eee xandros distro is nice, very tidy and VERY user friendly! But I need xp for what i do with work and with streaming video + audio stuff i use at home! Honestly for the little money it is its worth every penny!