Ask modern man (or maybe a teenager) what would be the worst thing that could happen to you today, and eventually you will hear, “My computer loses its Internet connection!” If you cannot live without your Facebook fix, then pay attention to this entry.
There is a real threat out in the wild to your enjoyment of the Internet. You have until July 9th to make sure that your computers will not fall victim to this insidious piece of malware. I am referring to a nasty piece of code aptly named “DNSChanger”, a.k.a. “Alureon”. This software if it has infected your system forces your computer to use nafarious DNS servers. In case you are not fluent in computer speak, DNS is what allows you to type in things like “www.vendorsafe.com” and find our website. Your DNS server changes the name you type in the URL line at the top of your browser to a numerical address that your computer understands. It is a slick system that allows neophytes to navigate the web as well as seasoned professionals. DNSchanger makes all of this fall on its figurative face.
When your system is infected, you type in www.vendorsafe.com, and the DNSchanger DNS server redirects you to some site that is trying to sell you pharmaceuticals or some method to improve your sex life. In essence, this software hijacks your computer and controls everything you see on the Web.
You might be asking yourself, “If this is such a bad piece of software, why haven’t I heard of it before?” The answer is simple. The FBI actually cracked down on this plot and via a court order, they were able to require the Internet Systems Consortium to take over the rogue servers and ensure that they were behaving as traditional DNS servers. This was supposed to allow the estimated 500,000 infected machines in the U.S. enough time to be sanitized. Well, the court order is about to expire. On July 9th, the DNS servers in question will be shut off. When that happens, any machine infected with DNSChanger will in essence be unable to use the Internet.
Take this seriously, and check your sytem out. If you want to know if you have the DNSChanger infection on your computer, or if you believe that you do and you want to clean it, then visit DCWG. This is a website dedicated to helping to alleviate the problems DNSChanger poses.