Conficker Virus Hit Systems at Cardiff University

The UK-based Cardiff University's Information Services (INSRV) have asked students to be careful while using computers after the detection of a major virus attack that has corrupted 120 computers on the Residences Network (RESLAN).

The virus behind the attack is known as Conficker and became active shortly after the Easter break. A window pop up on screen which post a convincing message called "Your computer infected by virus get rid of it now."

The noticeable fact is that the attack occurred on first year students whose systems were linked to the Residences Network that provides open access to Internet. Students fell victim to Conficker were instructed to delink their systems from the network.

Conficker caused a huge uproar last year when security researcher revealed that the virus was specifically designed to connect with 50,000 different domains on April 1, 2009. The virus was believed to have fermented for receiving updated copies or other malware. As per the security experts, Conficker spread through unpatched and weak password computers. Besides, the virus blocks the linking of computers with security websites and installs a Trojan.

Tom Wiersma, Assistant Director of INSRV, states that INSRV could not restrain those students, who need open Internet access in RESLAN, from going on websites that host these viruses for spreading them on clean computers. In fact, the task of stopping students to access Internet is almost impossible in the age of social networking, as reported by gairrhydd in the fourth week of April 2010.

Wiersma has further highlighted that INSRV computer has a less rate of infection. They could not block students from accessing to infectious websites. The direct relation between security and open access should be remembered that more open to access the websites, higher the chances of virus attack.

Unfortunately, several universities and enterprises have been affected by Conficker virus since its first detection.

For example - a serious attack of Conficker on the system network of the Greater Manchester Police (Manchester, UK) resulted in the disconnection of computers for four days and clean up operation was initiated. This incident was closely followed by infection on nearly 9-10 servers of NHS Leeds (Leeds, UK).

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» SPAMfighter News - 5/1/2010