Only some hours remain before computer users are left without internet thanks to the malicious DNS Changer malware aka Doomsday Virus.
On Monday July 9th, it is estimated that 64,000 computers in the US will be have its internet cutoff, preventing many from going online. The malware virus struck those in America along with 300,000 other computers in other countries.
The offline issue is due to the FBI closing temporary Domain Name servers due to court orders at 12:01 a.m. EDT. The FBIT temporarily used "safety nets" in order to keep the hacker's servers up for a designated amount of time. After eight months, the expiration date has arrived. Once the servers are shut down, then computer victims from the Doomsday virus will be saying goodbye to internet. Originally the date for shut down was March 8th, but has been changed to July 9th.
The global phenomenon has kept all computer users on edge as ISP companies are reaching out to their customers with the warning. Australian internet service provider "Coast Internet" notified their customers to have their computers examined before the deadline. Thought the issue is burdensome, some feel that the virus will not produce significant damages.
"There isn't a great threat. There won't be a complete meltdown of the internet," said Chris Edwards, owner of Coast computer firm Buzz a Geek. "There are already tools on the internet that can be useful for checking if a computer has this malware," added Edwards.
Malware makes its way into computers when users unknowingly download free software. The Malware virus then embeds programs into the computer, altering the way it works when connected online. The Doomsday virus causes grief but some feel that the unfortunate events can educate users on the importance of applying proper internet safety practices.
"These types of issues are only going to increase as our society relies more and more on the Internet, so it is a reminder that everyone can do their part," said Jim Langevin, co-founder of Congress' cybersecurity caucus.
Doomsday Virus started its destructive tear back in 2007. Hackers developed the malware for financial gain as it infiltrated computers and redirected users to certain websites. The traffic would illegally generate revenue through online advertisements. A sting called "Operation Ghost Click" was deployed by the FBI to catch the thieves. It led to the arrests of hackers in East Europe and an end to the scheme which generated $14 million and accessed 4 million computers worldwide.
"They can do a lot of damage," said Geek Beat Live co-host John Pozadzides. "They can present you to a fake Bank of America where you log in, and once you log in, they've got your log in details and can immediately go and empty your bank account."
The FBI has advised that computer owners check for malware by using the DNS Changer Working Group to perform a scan at the DNS website. Users can go to https://www.dcwg.org. The site also contains information and links so users can find fixes if their computer has been compromised.
An instant check can also be done at https://dns-ok.us. The site will detect if a computer is infected by the malware or not. If the background color appears red, steps will be needed to rectify the issue. If the screen appears green, it means the computer is safe.
