Flashback Virus Infects Computers at University of Iowa

A new student Callie Furlong at UI (University of Iowa) was studying on the Internet April 11, 2012 when suddenly she couldn't access the university's other computers. Her PC as well as 350-or-more additional Mac systems situated in the campus had become the target of Flashback a PC-virus. Dailyiowan.com reported this dated April 13, 2012.

The university's Chief Information Security (CIS) Official Jane Drews stated that the virus entered the computers through a contaminated website. When planted, it let its creators capture passwords and other personal information, he added. Dailyiowan.com published this.

The virus problem grew so intense that the IT department of UI had to do what stopped the contaminated computers from connecting with all of the remaining PCs. The university's security software spotted the Flashback malware after realizing that its PC-network operations inclined towards accessing a botnet.

Similar to Furlong, another fresher Max Dehio too observed that his computer couldn't any longer gain access. He told that the UI Information technology Services informed that it'd reformat all the contaminated Macs within the institution's premises so as for eliminating the virus. Dailyiowan.com published this.

Meanwhile, officers from the University IT services emphatically tell inmates that for keeping their private data secured and experiencing a safe Internet-operation, they should maintain an up-to-date operating system, routinely make their security software up-to-date as well as be aware of the ways for detecting malevolent attempts towards harming their computers alternatively allowing the capturing of their information. The frequently stated illusion that it's safer to use Macs compared to Windows PCs simply doesn't hold ground since several of the methods cyber-criminals apply for contaminating PCs nowadays seek users' initiative towards planting a forced malware themselves, they add. Helpdesk.its.uiowa.edu published this on April 12, 2012.

Vice-President, Joe Jaroch of Endpoint Solutions Engineering from Webroot stated that as Macs increased in popularity there was also an increasing level of threat. However, according to him, there could be worse as it was likely for Macs to encounter another major attack next that would be from the twin-weapon malware aiming simultaneously at both OS X and Windows via utilizing varied exploits.

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