How can I protect myself from Conficker? - Powered By Kayako SupportSuite

Sep 09, 2010

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	How can I protect myself from Conficker?

Solution Important: You must have administrative rights to run this tool on Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows XP.

Follow these steps to download and run the tool:

Download the FixDwndp.exe file from: http://www.symantec.com/content/en/us/global/removal_tool/threat_writeups/FixDwndp.exe.
Save the file to a convenient location, such as your Windows desktop.
Close all the running programs.
If you are on a network or if you have a full-time connection to the Internet, disconnect the computer from the network and the Internet.
If you are running Windows Me or XP, turn off System Restore. For instructions on how to turn off System Restore, read your Windows documentation, or one of the following articles:

How to disable or enable Windows Me System Restore

How to turn off or turn on Windows XP System Restore
Locate the file that you just downloaded.
Double-click the FixDwndp.exe file to start the removal tool.
Click Start to begin the process, and then allow the tool to run.

NOTE: If you have any problems when you run the tool, or it does nor appear to remove the threat, restart the computer in Safe mode and run the tool again.
Restart the computer.
Run the removal tool again to ensure that the system is clean.
If you are running Windows Me/XP, then reenable System Restore.
If you are on a network or if you have a full-time connection to the Internet, reconnect the computer to the network or to the Internet connection.
Update your virus definitions

When the tool has finished running, you will see a message indicating whether the threat has infected the computer. The tool displays results similar to the following:

Total number of the scanned files
Number of deleted files
Number of repaired files
Number of terminated viral processes
Number of fixed registry entries

What the tool does
The Removal Tool does the following:

Terminates the associated processes
Deletes the associated files
Deletes the registry values added by the threat
Removes the scheduled jobs created by the threat

Once you are sure you are clean,the easiest way to protect yourself is to patch the security hole in Windows XP. Microsoft released this patch back in October 2008, but you would be suprised how many systems have not applied the update. To do so manually, you may download the patch below.

Offical Microsoft "Conficker" patch

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Created On:

Mar 31, 2009 09:12 AM