Dangerous Hacker Worm Infects 8 Million Computers

The virus is the most serious threat in the last few years, and is spreading incredibly fast, to eight million systems.

In October last year, a number of programs were detected that can endanger unprotected and weakly protected systems. The worm called Downadup or Conficker is transferred via the internet or USB sticks. Up until now, despite an update issued by Microsoft to stop its spreading, more than eight million computers have been infected.

CNN writes that this is the most serious threat to computer security in the last few years only due to it being widespread. Most of those hit are business networks, even though the infection is possible in private computers.

According to Microsoft, the worm seeks the file “services.exe” and installs its own code.

Then it copies itself into the windows system directory as a “.dll” file, and gives itself a name between five to eight characters in length, as well as modify the registry in order to start the program.

The worm continues by creating a http server, resets Window’s restore point in order for it to be harder to remove, and starts downloading files from the hacker’s website.

Usually these worms download files from one or two sites, but this one generates hundreds per day, of which only one is real, so that it is nearly impossible to track the hacker.

The virus has been detected all over the world -  in China, Brazil, Russia and India, who have the largest number of infected computers.

In order to suppress the virus, or defend yourself from it, experts recommend that you install Microsoft’s MS08-067 patch.