Features

Computer worm attacks Windows 2000

By LEROY MCLEAN, Contributor

Vol 10:8 I CAN RECALL standing in line inside Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) Portmore, St. Catherine branch on a Thursday morning for over 15 minutes. I was next to be served by the teller, so I took out my Scotia card with the intention to swipe it inside the machine on the counter. "No sir", said that voice, "I am sorry, our computer system is currently down."

As a customer I was totally clueless as to why BNS's computer system was down. I later learnt about the Zotob worm that attacked thousands of computers around the world.

Zotob is a worm that targets Windows 2000-based computers and takes advantage of a security issue that was addressed by Microsoft Security Bulletin MS05-039. This worm and its variants install malicious software, and then search for other computers to infect.

If you have installed the update released from Microsoft with Security Bulletin MS05-039, you are already protected from Zotob and its variants. Also, if you are using any supported version of Windows other than Windows 2000, such as Windows XP, then you are not at risk from Zotob and its variants.

You can use the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool to search for and remove the Zotob worm and its variants from your hard drive. This tool checks for and removes infections from Zotob.A through Zotob.E. It also checks for and removes all versions of malicious software that the tool has been updated to remove.

How to Prevent Infection

Take the following steps to help prevent infection on your system:

1) Enable a firewall on your computer.

2) Get the latest computer updates.

3) Use up-to-date antivirus software.

Most antivirus software can detect and prevent infection by known malicious software. You should always run antivirus software on your computer that is updated with the latest signature files to automatically help protect you from infection. If you don't have antivirus software installed, you can get it from one of several companies.

Send your comments or suggestions to thestartech@yahoo.com.

You can also write to StarTech c/o The Gleaner Company, 7 North Street, Kingston.