Protect Your Computer From the "Internet Doomsday" Virus
What you should know if your computer is hacked.
1 / 8
The End of (Internet) Times? - Could you imagine a day without checking your email or updating your Facebook status? That could be the case for an estimated 250,000 people around the world on July 9, who could lose Internet connectivity if their computers get infected by the Alureon malware, nicknamed the "Internet Doomsday" virus, that was born from an international Internet advertising scam dating back to 2007. Google, Facebook and even the Federal Bureau of Investigation have launched campaigns to put computer users on notice ahead of Monday's tech shake-up. Keep reading for the backstory on the "Internet Doomsday" virus and how to bounce back if hackers do strike. – Britt Middleton (Photo: Courtesy fbi.gov)
2 / 8
How Can the Hackers Access My Computer? - A Domain Name System (DNS) allows your computer to communicate with DNS servers run by your Internet service provider and allows you to surf the web freely. Hackers use a combination of default usernames and passwords to break into your computer's DNS, and, if successful, they can control other devices in your home or office, such as a wireless Internet router. (Photo: REUTERS/Arko Datta)
3 / 8
Doing Real Damage - Having this control, a criminal can reroute your searches to a fake website or advertisement, interfere with your online Web browsing or turn off settings that prevent your computer from updating anti-malware software. (Photo: KEYSTONE /Landov)
4 / 8
The FBI Steps In - Last November the FBI busted a ring of cyber hackers for launching an Internet advertisement scam where 4 million computers worldwide (500,000 in the U.S. alone), including government agencies like NASA, were hijacked over the course of four years. The hackers made more than $14 million in commission from people who accidently clicked on the ads thinking they were legitimate. For example, when users of infected computers clicked on the link for the official website of iTunes, they were instead routed to a website for a business unaffiliated with Apple Inc. that claimed to sell Apple software, according to the FBI. (Photo: Nick Pandolfo/MCT /LANDOV)
5 / 8
In the Wake of the Cyber Bug - For the past four months, the FBI has worked with the Internet Systems Consortium, a nonprofit group, to set up "clean" DNS servers for individuals, businesses and other entities already affected by the advertising scam to use while they worked to restore their DNS to its normal settings. (Photo: Getty Images)
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 8
Transition in Place - At 12:01 a.m. Monday, those "clean" servers will be shut down and computers that haven't already been repaired — an estimated 45,355 in the U.S. alone — could experience Internet "blackouts." Despite the buzz burning up Internet forums and social media sites, Monday is not expected to be as significant as the hype would suggest because most computers affected by the advertising scam are no longer in use as the victims were previously notified of the attack, one security expert told Reuters. (Photo: REUTERS/Norbert von der Groeben)
7 / 8
How Can I Protect My Computer? - Because a malware attack can happen at any time, the best line of defense is to use software to scan your computer often. Check out the FBI's resource guide for step-by-step instructions to check if your DNS has been comprised. The agency also has a list of free malware check-up tools you should use to scan your computer before Monday. (Photo: Getty Images)