I have been diagnosed with the microsoft blaster worm what do I do?

Anybody else have it?

minibear,

Bummer. I just received notice from MS and they are directing folks to the following website for directions on how to correct the problem:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=222099

Just one more reason I use a mac.

A number of anti-virus vendors have created tools to remove this for you. Here are a few of them:
McAfee
Symantec
Computer Associtates

There are detailed instructions at http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp on how to protect your computer from this virus. You should make sure to follow these after you get your system clean.

Basically, here is what you should do to get and stay protected:
1. First, turn on the Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP. Having the firewall activated will protect your computer from this security issue as well as many many others. Even if your computer has already been infected, activating firewall software will help limit the effects of the worm on your computer.

The fine print: If you have multiple machines, you should use the Home network configuration wizard. In the multiple machine case only the Internet facing computer (the computer attached to the Internet directly and not the other computers in the home that sharing the Internet connection) should have the firewall enabled via the instructions below. Please note that the firewall can disable some internet software, services and features. However, if this happens you can selectively correct these issues by adjusting how the firewall works. For the vast majority of users this change will be totally transparent. Your email and browsing experience for example should not be impacted in any way. In some cases you may have to "open a port" for a feature to work. I don't describe how to alter those secondary settings here. If you run servers in your house, etc., then you are technical enough that this message isn't intented for you. If you experience any changes to your internet software, services or features, please call 1-866-PCSAFETY if you can't figure it out or check our web site for more information.

The instructions:

1. Open Network Connections (Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double–click Network Connections.)

2. Click to select the Dial–up, LAN or High–Speed Internet connection that you want to protect.

3. In the task pane on the left, under Network Tasks, click Change settings of this connection.
(Or, within the Network Connections folder, right-click on the connection that you want to protect and then click Properties.)

4. On the Advanced tab, under Internet Connection Firewall, select the Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet check box.

If you are not running Windows XP, you will need to install a third-party firewall. Most firewall software for home users is available in free or trial versions. Check the following resources for more information on personal firewalls:

ZoneAlarm Pro (http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/zap/zap_details.jsp)

Tiny Personal Firewall (http://www.tinysoftware.com/home/tiny2?la=EN)

Outpost Firewall (http://www.agnitum.com/download/outpostfree.html)

Kerio Personal Firewall (http://www.kerio.com/us/kpf_download.html)

BlackICE PC Protection (http://blackice.iss.net/product_pc_protection.php)


2. Second, configure AutoUpdate for Windows Update for Windows XP. While your computer is connected to the Internet, the Automatic Updates feature in Windows XP looks for updates and downloads any that are available. By using the scheduled downloads feature, you will automate the essential second step of actually installing the updates once they are downloaded (and not see those pop-up balloon reminders).

1. Open System Properties (Click Start, click Control Panel, click Performance and Maintenance, click the System icon to open the System Properties dialogue box. (If the Performance and Maintenance category is not visible, click Switch to Category View under Control Panel on the left side of the Control Panel window)

2. Click the Automatic Updates tab. If the check box next to Keep my computer up to date is clear, click it to select it.

3. Schedule Regular Installs. On the Automatic Updates tab, under Settings, click Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify. From the lists provided, select a day and time for your computer to install downloaded updates. Be sure to pick a day and time when your computer is usually turned on.

4. Click OK to apply your changes and close the dialog box.

If you are not running Windows XP, you can still use Windows Update. More information on downloading updates can be found at www.microsoft.com/security



3. Third, use antivirus software and make sure you have the latest updates installed. These software packages can help you deal with attacks of different forms (e.g., email viruses).

· If you already have antivirus software installed, go to your antivirus vendor's Web site to get the latest updates, also known as virus definitions.

· If you do not have antivirus software installed, then you should consider getting it. The following vendors participating in the Microsoft Virus Information Alliance (VIA) offer antivirus products for home users:

Network Associates (http://us.mcafee.com/root/catalog.asp?catid=av)

Trend Micro (http://www.trendmicro.com/en/products/desktop/pc-cillin/evaluate/overview.htm)

Symantec (http://www.symantec.com/product/index_homecomp.html)

BTW, don't think for a second that if Macs were the predominent computer around the world, they wouldn't be target of these attacks.

Minibear - do you have high speed internet access or dial up? If you have dial up, you may not be able to download the fixes fast enough before the worm shuts you down. My sister-in-law has the worm and dial up, I tried everything I could think of including doing a system restore from before the worm, and was unsuccesful. It's a nasty one. Good luck.

First let the worm do its job on MS.

Then upload all the files in this directory: ftp://ftp.orst.edu/pub/mandrake/iso/, Burn them all to CDs, then install CD #1 in your machine, and check that it will boot from your CD drive, and reboot.

That will fix all your MS problems for free.

Wonderfull, the guy asks for help removing a virus and you want him to change to a different OS.

Hooknose,

I was hoping the website I provided might be of some help.
Sorry if you took my relief and gratitude of good fortune a solicitation for a different OS. I prefer to let MS, Apple, Linux and others to do their own selling. Last I checked though, MS was doing pretty well in this regard.

May we only have to worry about "pink worms" in the future.

Mooch, my comment was directed towards Wooly Worm. The suggestion he gave was for minibear to change to Lynux.

hooknose,

Thanks for clueing me in. I just figured wooly worm was just trying to help out too. That's what so great about this board: folks helping other folks out. The last thing I'd want to do is dance on anyones grave. I apologize if anyone took it that way. One thing is for sure though, no OS is worth dividing over.

Well, if a guy wants to be free of virii, Bill Gates, and have the best OS, and a pocket full of cash, then Linux Rocks!

And secondly, the installation procedure removes the virus.

Rob
Immune for more than 3 years.

"And secondly, the installation procedure removes the virus. "

So does [format c:\], but it doesn't solve his problems.

Your suggestion is like telling someone the only way to put out the grease fire in their galley is to scuttle the boat.

At least put a in there so he knows you're kidding.

There are holes to go after in Linux. It just needs to be a bigger target to make it worth the black hats time. Also, the bug has to be in a mainstream os to be newsworthy, so even if problems are found, they don't make the non computer related news.

Consider yourself lucky if you haven't been exploited in the past 3 years and haven't installed patches. It is a fact that there have been bugs found in Linux in the past 3 years.

As a reminder, this worm like many of the recent "security bugs" exploited a known bug that had a patch available for a free download before it hit.

The users either chose not to download the update or didn't know to download the update. There is no reason to expect that those same users would download patches for Linux if a similar bug was found in Linux.

For those who have computer problems and aren't too saavy with computers, head over to this link: http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/chat/chat.asp

On that website there's 'live' help for all your computer issues. I'm one of the 'techs' who show on occasion but with school, i'm going to have to cut back on my hours again.

Fish on!

SalmonFisher

Hey, if you got the worm just do what my dog does, rub your butt along the ground and I'll give you a pill.

Point taken. All of my comments have been .

But this whole "grease fire analogy" is a bit much. When you get sick of MS , I will be glad to show you how to not scuttle your boat in moving over to an excellent OS.

Actualy I would rather use freeBsd and if you could let me know of a way to use all of my old windows programs or find me the equivelent for the new os I'd love to change os. "when I say use the old programs I mean without degrading speed including gaming etc."