HEADS UP--CBS says Internet worm may strike Wednesday!

[Guest guest]

Holy Moly---sounds bad...better erase those password files

 

******************************

 

The CBS program, "60 Minutes", is reporting tonight that there may be aserious threat from a computer worm called, " Conficker", that might take effecton April 1 (but it's not a joke). To see the CBS report, go to: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4901282n To read a transcript, see below.The Conficker Worm: What Happens

Next?60 Minutes: Computer Worm Could Receive New Instructions On April 1March 29, 2009The Internet Is Infected(CBS) The Internet is infected. Malicious computer hackers have been creatingmore and more weapons that they plant on the Internet. They call their weaponsviruses and worms - they're creepy, crawly toxic software that contaminate ourcomputers without our ever knowing it. You can be infected by simply visitingyour favorite Web site, or just by leaving your computer on, overnight whileyou're asleep.And the problem is growing, exponentially. Last year the number of infectionstripled. And an entire industry of computer security professionals is in a raceto keep the hackers from their goal, which is usually to steal your money.One of the most dangerous threats ever, a computer worm known as "Conficker," isspreading through the Internet right now. By some estimates, 10 millioncomputers have been infected worldwide.At Symantec, the company that makes Norton anti-virus software, engineers havebeen tracking Conficker since last November as it worms its way across the globe."This map is showing a visual representation of where all of the knowninfections of Conficker are across the world," explained Steve Trilling, aSymantec vice president who says the worm is now living on millions ofcomputers, mainly in corporations.So far, the bad guys who created it haven't triggered Conficker. It's justsitting out there like a sleeper

cell."Imagine a network of spies that has infiltrated a country. And every day, allof the spies are calling in for their instructions on what to do next," Trillingexplained.Asked what the worm is being asked to do, Trilling told Stahl, "That's theinteresting thing. The only thing the worm is being asked to do is to ask forfurther instructions."For several months, Trilling says the worm has just been sitting there, awaitinginstructions.It's that ominous, because once the hackers issue instructions, Conficker couldturn menacing in an instant.With one click, the worm's creator can instruct it to suck sensitive data, likebank passwords and account numbers, out of millions of computers, or launch amassive spam attack to clog up the works.The newest targets of worms are social networking

sites. Trilling demonstratedto Stahl how it might work.Looking at a real Facebook page, Trilling explained, "We added your friend andcolleague Morley Safer, you can see down there on the left."He says a worm can crack into a Facebook account, like Morley's, and send amessage to anyone on his friends list.It's a message a friend or colleague, like Stahl, would be sure to open since itcomes from a trusted friend. Stahl took the bait and clicked on what looked likeMorley's video link."Something looks a little off," Trilling remarked. "You're already infected."As Trilling demonstrated on a second screen, the hacker "owned" Stahl's onlinemovements. "From here on out, everything you do, gonna show up on the hacker'smachine," he

explained.So when Stahl typed her username and password into a bank Web site, it appearedinstantaneously on the hacker’s screen, along with her bank account details."Every single keystroke you hit, in fact, if you make a mistake and hit abackspace, that shows up in the window," Trilling explained.The hacker then followed her around, as she browsed the Internet from CBS Newsto Amazon.com."So, if I buy something, they’re gonna have my credit card," Stahl remarked."Everything you type in, your address, your credit card, it’s all gonna show upin that window," Trilling warned.The Internet has become a minefield.

Hackers have hidden their malicioussoftware known as "malware" on some of the most trusted Web sites, like eBay,the Miami Dolphins football team, even my.barackobama.com.Trilling says too few people have top-notch, up-to-date security software.[To see the rest of this transcript, go to: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/27/60minutes/main4897053.shtml

]_____________ps-news mailing listps-newshttps://lists.langara.bc.ca/mailman/listinfo/ps-news

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the heads up Bea. G20. President away, and then

internet disabled because of virus? Just thinking aloud

here.

At 01:12 PM 30/03/2009, you wrote:

 

Holy Moly---sounds bad...better erase those password files

 

******************************

 

The CBS program, " 60 Minutes " , is reporting tonight that there

may be a

serious threat from a computer worm called, " Conficker " , that

might take effect

on April 1 (but it's not a joke).

To see the CBS report, go to:

 

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4901282n

 

 

To read a transcript, see below.

 

The Conficker Worm: What Happens Next?

60 Minutes: Computer Worm Could Receive New Instructions On April

1

March 29, 2009

The Internet Is Infected

(CBS) The Internet is infected. Malicious computer hackers have

been creating

more and more weapons that they plant on the Internet. They call their

weapons

viruses and worms - they're creepy, crawly toxic software that

contaminate our

computers without our ever knowing it. You can be infected by simply

visiting

your favorite Web site, or just by leaving your computer on, overnight

while

you're asleep.

And the problem is growing, exponentially. Last year the number of

infections

tripled. And an entire industry of computer security professionals is in

a race

to keep the hackers from their goal, which is usually to steal your

money.

One of the most dangerous threats ever, a computer worm known as

" Conficker, " is

spreading through the Internet right now. By some estimates, 10

million

computers have been infected worldwide.

At Symantec, the company that makes Norton anti-virus software, engineers

have

been tracking Conficker since last November as it worms its way across

the globe.

" This map is showing a visual representation of where all of the

known

infections of Conficker are across the world, " explained Steve

Trilling, a

Symantec vice president who says the worm is now living on millions

of

computers, mainly in corporations.

So far, the bad guys who created it haven't triggered Conficker. It's

just

sitting out there like a sleeper cell.

" Imagine a network of spies that has infiltrated a country. And

every day, all

of the spies are calling in for their instructions on what to do

next, " Trilling

explained.

Asked what the worm is being asked to do, Trilling told Stahl,

" That's the

interesting thing. The only thing the worm is being asked to do is to ask

for

further instructions. "

For several months, Trilling says the worm has just been sitting there,

awaiting

instructions.

It's that ominous, because once the hackers issue instructions, Conficker

could

turn menacing in an instant.

With one click, the worm's creator can instruct it to suck sensitive

data, like

bank passwords and account numbers, out of millions of computers, or

launch a

massive spam attack to clog up the works.

The newest targets of worms are social networking sites. Trilling

demonstrated

to Stahl how it might work.

Looking at a real Facebook page, Trilling explained, " We added your

friend and

colleague Morley Safer, you can see down there on the

left. "

He says a worm can crack into a Facebook account, like Morley's, and send

a

message to anyone on his friends list.

It's a message a friend or colleague, like Stahl, would be sure to open

since it

comes from a trusted friend. Stahl took the bait and clicked on what

looked like

Morley's video link.

" Something looks a little off, " Trilling remarked. " You're

already infected. "

As Trilling demonstrated on a second screen, the hacker " owned "

Stahl's online

movements. " From here on out, everything you do, gonna show up on

the hacker's

machine, " he explained.

So when Stahl typed her username and password into a bank Web site, it

appeared

instantaneously on the hacker’s screen, along with her bank account

details.

" Every single keystroke you hit, in fact, if you make a mistake and

hit a

backspace, that shows up in the window, " Trilling

explained.

The hacker then followed her around, as she browsed the Internet from CBS

News

to

Amazon.com

..

" So, if I buy something, they’re gonna have my credit card, "

Stahl remarked.

" Everything you type in, your address, your credit card, it’s all

gonna show up

in that window, " Trilling warned.

The Internet has become a minefield. Hackers have hidden their

malicious

software known as " malware " on some of the most trusted Web

sites, like eBay,

the Miami Dolphins football team, even

 

my.barackobama.com.

Trilling says too few people have top-notch, up-to-date security

software.

[To see the rest of this transcript, go to:

 

 

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/27/60minutes/main4897053.shtml

]

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[Guest guest]

haha-----you're worse than I am....--- On Sun, 3/29/09, Hanneke <blosshan wrote:

Hanneke <blosshanRe: HEADS UP--CBS says Internet worm may strike Wednesday! Date: Sunday, March 29, 2009, 8:19 PM

 

 

Thanks for the heads up Bea. G20. President away, and then internet disabled because of virus? Just thinking aloud here.At 01:12 PM 30/03/2009, you wrote:

Holy Moly---sounds bad...better erase those password files ************ ********* ********* The CBS program, "60 Minutes", is reporting tonight that there may be aserious threat from a computer worm called, " Conficker", that might take effecton April 1 (but it's not a joke). To see the CBS report, go to: http://www.cbsnews. com/video/ watch/?id= 4901282n To read a transcript, see below.The Conficker Worm: What Happens Next?60 Minutes: Computer Worm Could Receive New Instructions On April 1March 29, 2009The Internet Is Infected(CBS) The Internet is infected. Malicious computer hackers have been creatingmore and more weapons that they plant on the Internet. They

call their weaponsviruses and worms - they're creepy, crawly toxic software that contaminate ourcomputers without our ever knowing it. You can be infected by simply visitingyour favorite Web site, or just by leaving your computer on, overnight whileyou're asleep.And the problem is growing, exponentially. Last year the number of infectionstripled. And an entire industry of computer security professionals is in a raceto keep the hackers from their goal, which is usually to steal your money.One of the most dangerous threats ever, a computer worm known as "Conficker," isspreading through the Internet right now. By some estimates, 10 millioncomputers have been infected worldwide.At Symantec, the company that makes Norton anti-virus software, engineers havebeen tracking Conficker since last November as it worms its way across the globe."This map is showing a visual representation of where all

of the knowninfections of Conficker are across the world," explained Steve Trilling, aSymantec vice president who says the worm is now living on millions ofcomputers, mainly in corporations.So far, the bad guys who created it haven't triggered Conficker. It's justsitting out there like a sleeper cell."Imagine a network of spies that has infiltrated a country. And every day, allof the spies are calling in for their instructions on what to do next," Trillingexplained.Asked what the worm is being asked to do, Trilling told Stahl, "That's theinteresting thing. The only thing the worm is being asked to do is to ask forfurther instructions."For several months, Trilling says the worm has just been sitting there, awaitinginstructions.It's that ominous, because once the hackers issue instructions, Conficker couldturn menacing in an instant.With one click, the worm's creator

can instruct it to suck sensitive data, likebank passwords and account numbers, out of millions of computers, or launch amassive spam attack to clog up the works.The newest targets of worms are social networking sites. Trilling demonstratedto Stahl how it might work.Looking at a real Facebook page, Trilling explained, "We added your friend andcolleague Morley Safer, you can see down there on the left."He says a worm can crack into a Facebook account, like Morley's, and send amessage to anyone on his friends list.It's a message a friend or colleague, like Stahl, would be sure to open since itcomes from a trusted friend. Stahl took the bait and clicked on what looked likeMorley's video link."Something looks a little off," Trilling remarked. "You're already infected."As Trilling demonstrated on a second screen, the hacker "owned" Stahl's onlinemovements. "From here on out,

everything you do, gonna show up on the hacker'smachine," he explained.So when Stahl typed her username and password into a bank Web site, it appearedinstantaneously on the hacker’s screen, along with her bank account details."Every single keystroke you hit, in fact, if you make a mistake and hit abackspace, that shows up in the window," Trilling explained.The hacker then followed her around, as she browsed the Internet from CBS Newsto Amazon.com ."So, if I buy something, they’re gonna have my credit card," Stahl remarked."Everything you type in, your address, your credit card, it’s all gonna show upin that window," Trilling warned.The Internet has become a minefield. Hackers have hidden their malicioussoftware known as "malware" on some of the most trusted Web sites, like

eBay,the Miami Dolphins football team, even my.barackobama. com.Trilling says too few people have top-notch, up-to-date security software.[To see the rest of this transcript, go to: http://www.cbsnews. com/stories/ 2009/03/27/ 60minutes/ main4897053. shtml ]____________ _________ _________ _________ ________ps-news mailing listps-news (AT) lists (DOT) langara.bc. cahttps://lists. langara.bc. ca/mailman/ listinfo/

ps-news

 

avast! Antivirus: Inbound message clean. Virus Database (VPS): 090329-0, 29/03/2009Tested on: 30/03/2009 1:16:34 PMavast! - copyright © 1988-2009 ALWIL Software.

 

 

avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean. Virus Database (VPS): 090329-0, 29/03/2009Tested on: 30/03/2009 1:49:03 PMavast! - copyright © 1988-2009 ALWIL Software.