Hundreds of thousands may lose Internet in July

[anunitu]

I am a bit surprised that this did not get a lot of news coverage.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_1...ernet-in-july/

Quote from this story.

"(AP) For computer users, a few mouse clicks could mean the difference between staying online and losing Internet connections this summer.

Unknown to most of them, their problem began when international hackers ran an online advertising scam to take control of infected computers around the world.

In a highly unusual response, the FBI set up a safety net months ago using government computers to prevent Internet disruptions for those infected users. But that system is to be shut down.

The FBI is encouraging users to visit a website run by its security partner, DCWG.org, that will inform them whether they're infected and explain how to fix the problem. After July 9, infected users won't be able to connect to the Internet."

[MichaelW]

I just tried the link and I get page not found. I find it hard to believe that the FBI would have a "security" partner named DCWG.org, and very suspicious that my quick search did not find anything on this from any security organization that I recognize.

[dedndave]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-57418037-501465/hundreds-of-thousands-may-lose-internet-in-july/?tag=mncol;lst;1

[shankle]

This site will supposedly tell you if your computer is at risk.
If it turns Green you are ok:

     www.dns-ok.us/

Mine turned green. Have no way to check the validity of the test.
Would like to hear your opinions.

[SteveAsm]

I first heard the details of this issue, yesterday, while listening to Leo Leporte, on his radio show "The Tech Guy Labs".
Apparantly this is entirely true.
http://techguylabs.com/radio/ShowNotes/Show868

[vanjast]

The FBI is encouraging users to visit a website run by its security partner, DCWG.org, that will inform them whether they're infected and explain how to fix the problem. After July 9, infected users won't be able to connect to the Internet."

I'd rather trust the hackers than the FBI at the moment  :bg
It's a choice of 'The lesser of the two evils'  :wink

Not all hackers are bad... and at the moment I have doubts about any 'safety' regarding the US.. just my concerns at the mo!

[P1]

I am a bit surprised that this did not get a lot of news coverage.

It did get good coverage, to those that would care.   

What I find interesting is the FBI is "the man in the middle" replacement.   It was a easy money contract to provide pass-through DNS service server.

Most of these computers either, do not have virus protection or do not have updates turn on or not working.

Regards,  P1   :8)

[MichaelW]

Most of these computers either, do not have virus protection or do not have updates turn on or not working.

Or just have a yoyo at the steering wheel :bg

[dedndave]

i think what bugs me here is, the government getting their hands in "who gets on and who doesn't"
i smell a slower internet coming, even if you can get on
come to think of it, i wasn't aware that they had such controls in place, to begin with
...and i know i didn't have a chance to vote against it

[Farabi]

FBI had a good reputation here. I bet lots of them are a good hackers too, except if they knew only scripting.

[P1]

i think what bugs me here is, the government getting their hands in "who gets on and who doesn't"
i smell a slower internet coming, even if you can get on
come to think of it, i wasn't aware that they had such controls in place, to begin with
...and i know i didn't have a chance to vote against it

Too late, there is reason why the government owns a lot of Internet infrastructure is to scan it.  It is a carry over from the phone days(original Internet).  The filter traffic on key search words.

Regards,  Michael

[Bill Cravener]

[sinsi]

Well, I guess there will still be a few over here

TDSS, Alureon, TidServ and TDL4 viruses

I still kill the first two at least twice a week.
Kaspersky still update tdsskiller (seems to me every day).
Malwarebytes at $25 is looking good.

[SteveAsm]

It did get good coverage, to those that would care.   

Where ?
I only recall hearing a rumor of this sort, maybe 6 months back or so.
No major media coverage.

Most of these computers either, do not have virus protection or do not have updates turn on or not working.

Now, when I explained to my wife, (who simply couldn't understand why the FBI was involved in shutting down a segment of the internet and cutting off users), she felt that it was the fault of the users for not updating their computers or having anti-virus.

That is, until I explained that it is people like my mother-inlaw (her mother) who are the most likely to be affected.
People who (have and use a computer, but,) are "computer ill-literate" and don't want to be bothered by having to mess with updating or paying for something they don't think they need.
After all, she doesn't "visit porn or other questionable websites" and doesn't think she is at risk.

It is unlikely that the tech savy will be victims of this, but rather, the naive.
As Leo Laporte stated in his radio show, "if you lose internet connection in July, that is the least of your problems".

[vanjast]

If you think of it, it's probably just a hoax to get people to unwittingly 'register' on the FBI database.

If they proceed to shut down the net, think of the effect it would have on world businesses.
It's a stupid idea and doomed to failure at it's conception...

Come to think of it the US has been good at such things.. Vietnam. Iraq(version 2).. Afghanistan, where mostly Oil barons and Weapons dealers have profited.
I wonder who's profiting from this idea  :naughty:

Bet's on that the cut-off date is.....  4th July  :green2