WARNING: New worm - W32 Blaster.

[Sheeana]

I just got this information through my Internet Provider (Xtra), so I thought I'd pass it on.


Microsoft has issued a worldwide warning about a computer worm
commonly known as W32 Blaster that can infect computers running
Windows XP, Windows NT4, Windows Server 2003 and Windows 2000.
Your computer can be infected simply by connecting to the
Internet.

The worm is not being transferred by email and, as a result, your
computer will not be protected by Xtra's anti-virus email filter.

Tools to fix the problem have been released and if you are running one
of the operating systems mentioned above, it is vital you protect your
system from this worm immediately.

When you connect to the Internet after August 15th, all infected
computers will try and flood Microsoft's Windows update Web site with
large volumes of traffic.

The steps you need to take are:

If you have Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, enable the Internet
Connection Firewall (ICF). To do this you will need to:

1. Ensure you are not currently connected to the internet.
   
2. Click the Start button
   
3. Click Control Panel
   
4. Click Networking and Internet Connections, and then click Network
   Connections (some computers may have the Network Connections icon directly
   inside the Control Panel).
   
5. Right-click the connection on which you would like to enable the
   firewall (normally this is labelled as "Xtra"), and then click Properties.
   
6. On the Advanced tab, click the box to select the option to "Protect my
   computer or network?"
   
7. Click OK
   
8. Close the Control Panel

If you are running Windows 2000 or Windows NT, install an Internet firewall
of your choice.

How do I know if I've been infected?
This may not be immediately obvious, however typical symptoms include your
computer closing down while you're online and restarting without any
warning.

If your PC is not infected
Download the appropriate patch via
http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp. This site also
includes information about firewalls and worm removal tools. Note that the
patch required for Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional is available
via the "Windows XP (32 bit)" link. Update and run your anti-virus software.
Customers who don't currently have an anti-virus program installed should
refer to http://www.microsoft.com/security/ar.../antivirus.asp for help
about anti-virus software or a list of Microsoft partners.
Download any other required patches at http://www.windowsupdate.com

Infected
If your computer's operating system has already been infected with this worm,
the Microsoft patch will not be effective on its own. You will need to visit
http://www.xtra.co.nz/latest where you will find information to help you.

Additional information for remedying the effects of this worm is also
available at http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp

For further support, please visit Microsoft at
http://www.microsoft.com/security or telephone 0800 800 004.

[Valaróma]

Renewed my firewall..wow..thanks very much Seeana!

[Elf Girl]

My uncle got the bug trying to download the patch. Be careful. Avoid the Internet. (Not much chance of that if you're reading this though, eh?)

[Sheeana]

You're very welcome. I'll just sit here and look like a smug Mac user.

[Earniel]

And I sit here like a smug windows '98 user. It pays to stay behind then.

Of course computer Dave who runs on XP, will have a slight problem. Let's hope my firewall and anti-virusprogram can do the trick. Last system scan came out clean.

I don't have much confidence in windows patches. Is it that hard to make a program without flaws and holes the first time? You'd think microsoft should have enough money and research for it instead of continually forcing its costumers to download this or that patch. It looks sloppy to say the least.

[gimli7410]

my friend has it but it hasnt done damage all it does is restart your computer ten minutes after you go on the internet. im not worried because we already have the firewall and all the stuff that windows suggested so hopefully nothin happens

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Eärniel
I don't have much confidence in windows patches. Is it that hard to make a program without flaws and holes the first time? You'd think microsoft should have enough money and research for it instead of continually forcing its costumers to download this or that patch. It looks sloppy to say the least.

That don't have to make programs with out bugs - what other operating system will you use? IE has the most security holes of any browser - but so many people use it - even though there is Netscape, Mozilla and others out there. The joke in the computer industriy has always been that Microsucks has a huge Quality Testing department - the users. Until people start getting fed up with the crap that microsucks produces and start moving to Mac and Linux - Microsucks will have no incentive to produce better products. They have never produced good products - the only way they have gotten ahead is buying out their superior competitors and killing the products. Or they bankrupt their competitors by giving their products away free - something that their competition can not afford to do.

Does anyone remember when Quattro Pro was 2 versions ahead of Excel and Microsucks started giving away Excel for free? After that - even though Quattro Pro was a superior product - it couldn't compete with free and soon went under - now people pay $200+ for Excel. So much for the days when Excel was free or we had a choice of a superior spreadsheet program that actually made improvements with each new release.