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Kim Komando...
Ready for the FBI
server shutdown?
Q. Hey, Kim. I read in your tip last month that the FBI was going to
shut down some servers on March 8 and that people might lose access to
the Internet. Whatever happened with that? Can I assume my computer
wasn’t affected?
-Bob from Harrisburg, PA, listens to my national radio show on WHP 580
AM.
A. Good memory, Bob. Unfortunately, you can’t assume your computer is
OK. The FBI decided to move the shutdown date back to July 9, so the
real test is still ahead.
For those who don’t know what Bob and I are talking about, I’ll give a
summary. Tens of thousands of computers are infected with a virus
called DNSChanger, which redirects their Internet traffic to malicious
domain name servers.
Last year, the FBI nabbed the hacker group responsible and replaced the
malicious servers with clean servers. This was a temporary solution to
give people with infected computers time to remove the virus.
Unfortunately, many people still haven’t taken action. When the FBI
shuts down the temporary servers on July 9, those people could lose
Internet access. If you want all the details, read my last tip on this
subject.
So, is your computer infected?
Start by paying a visit to http://dns-ok.us. This site will indicate
whether your computer is looking up websites correctly. If it shows
green, then you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
If it’s red, you’ll need to grab some free security software from my
Security Center and clean your computer.
However, DNSChanger might prevent you from visiting security software
websites.
If that happens, download the security programs on another computer and
then transfer via flash drive. In extreme cases, you might need a
last-ditch solution like Microsoft Security Sweeper.
Once the virus is gone, reboot and your computer should revert to its
original DNS settings automatically. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to
contact your ISP to learn what DNS settings you should be using.
Even if your computer isn’t infected with DNSChanger, that doesn’t mean
your computer isn’t in danger. There are millions of other viruses out
there. Make sure you have up-to-date security software installed to
protect your computer.
Understanding domain name servers can help improve your computing
experience. Check out these great DNS ideas.
You don’t have to use your ISP’s DNS servers. This DNS service makes
your browsing faster and safer for the whole family.
Your computer stores common DNS information to speed up browsing. Edit
this information for improved speed and security.
Want to shop around for a faster DNS service? This program helps you
find the fastest DNS server available.
Read this and the links within the article at Kim Komando
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