The Conficker worm spreads itself primarily through a buffer overflow vulnerability in the Server Service on Windows computers. The worm uses a specially crafted RPC request to execute code on the target computer.

When executed on a computer, Conficker disables a number of system services such as Windows Automatic Update, Windows Security Center, Windows Defender and Windows Error Reporting.

It receives further instructions by connecting to a server. The instructions it receives may include to propagate, gather personal information and to download and install additional malware onto the victim's computer. The worm also attaches itself to certain Windows processes such as svchost.exe, explorer.exe and services.exe.

Payload

The "A" variant of Conficker will create an HTTP server and open a random port between 1024 and 10000. If the remote machine is exploited successfully, the victim will connect back to the HTTP server and download a worm copy. It will also reset System Restore points, and download files to the target computer. The other variants are said to have payload that will activate on April 1.

Symptoms of infection

• Account lockout policies being reset automatically.

• Certain Microsoft Windows services such as Automatic Updates, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Windows Defender and Error Reporting Services are automatically disabled.

• Domain controllers respond slowly to client requests.

• System network gets unusually congested. This can be checked with network traffic chart on Windows Task Manager.

• On websites related to antivirus software, Windows system updates cannot be accessed.

• Launches a brute force dictionary attack against administrator passwords to help it spread through ADMIN$ shares, making choice of sensible passwords advisable.

Impact

Experts say it is the worst infection since the SQL Slammer. Estimates of the number of computers infected range from almost 9 million PCs to 15 million computers.

Another antivirus software vendor, Panda Security, reported that of the 2 million computers analyzed through ActiveScan, around 115,000 (6%) were infected with this malware.

The potential scale of infection is large because 30 percent of Windows computers do not have the Microsoft Windows patch released in October 2008 to block this vulnerability.

The U.K. Ministry of Defence reported that some of its major systems and desktops were infected. The worm has spread across administrative offices, NavyStar/N* desktops aboard various Royal Navy warships and Royal Navy submarines, and Hospitals across the city of Sheffield reported infection of over 800 computers.

On February 6, 2009, the computers used by the Houston Municipal Courts were infected with Conficker. How the virus got into the system is unknown.

On February 13 the Bundeswehr reported that some hundred of their computers were infected.

Response

On February 12, 2009, Microsoft announced the formation of a technology industry collaboration to combat the effects of Conficker. Organizations involved in this collaborative effort include Microsoft, Afilias, ICANN, Neustar, Verisign, CNNIC, Public Internet Registry, Global Domains International, Inc., M1D Global, AOL, Symantec, F-Secure, ISC, researchers from Georgia Tech, The Shadowserver Foundation, Arbor Networks and Support Intelligence.

As of February 13, 2009, Microsoft is offering a $250,000 USD reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the criminals behind the creation and/or distribution of Conficker.

Patching and removal

On 15 October 2008 Microsoft released a patch (MS08-067) to fix the vulnerability. Removal tools are available from Microsoft, BitDefender, ESET, Symantec, Sophos, and Kaspersky Lab, while McAfee and AVG can remove it with an on-demand scan. While Microsoft has released patches for the later Windows XP Service Packs 2 and 3 and Windows 2000 SP4 and Vista, it has not released any patch for Windows XP Service Pack 1 or earlier versions (excluding Windows 2000 SP4), as the support period for these service packs has expired. Since the virus can spread via USB drives that trigger AutoRun, disabling the AutoRun feature for external media (through modifying the Windows Registry) is recommended. However the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team describe Microsoft's guidelines on disabling Autorun as being "not fully effective," and they provide their own guides. Microsoft has released a removal guide for the worm via the Microsoft website.

Also, on March 16, 2009, BitDefender released an updated tool to remove the already famous Downadup/Conficker worm on a new domain that has not been blocked by the malicious computer code at a website called "bdtools.net".

Apart from the fact that the BitDefender tool removes the latest and most resilient to disinfection release of the virus, it also comes as a separate installer dedicated to network administrators. In this way, the scanner can be dispatched throughout networks in order to remotely scan and disinfect workstations.

I would strongly recommend that you take the following steps to be sure your systems are not affected:

1. Be SURE you have a good antivirus and antispyware program installed and your subscription has not expired! Be sure it is being updated daily.

2. Be sure your Microsoft critical updates are up to date.

3. On March 31st, go to www.update.microsoft.com and see if there are any new critical updates to be installed on your computer.

If you need help getting ready for this potential threat, or you find you are infected on April 1st, contact me at the number below and I will assist you in any way possible....