How to prevent Conficker worm from infecting your computer

Feb

2009

How to prevent Conficker worm from infecting your computer

Just in case you missed the latest breaking news, a worm called Conficker is damaging millions of computers with more than 9 millions PC already infected worldwide. If you want to get some info about this worm, here is a very interesting article available at Wikipedia. What follows instead is a couple of really simple steps on how to fight this threat back.

Conficker manages to get through your computer in the same classic ways other viruses do. So, there is nothing new under this side. Useless to say, don’t open any files attached to e-mails you don’t know the sender. The first thing Conficker does is to disable system services such as Windows Automatic Update, Windows Error Reporting and other ones. Right after that it will try to connect to a remote server to download more malware to your PC. To block and prevent Conficker attacking you, you need to disable the AutoRun feature by downloading these simple applications in case your operating systems is Windows 2000 or Windows XP. If you own Windows Vista, all you have to do is install this hotfix. After that, for all operating systems, follow these steps:

Click Start.
Click Run.
Type gpedit.msc and hit Enter.
Under Computer Configuration locate and expand Administrative Template.
In Windows XP click System while for Windows Vista click Windows Components then Autoplay Policies.
In the right-pane, right-click Turn off Autoplay, then click Properties.
Under Turn off Autoplay click the Enabled radio button and select All Drivers.
Click OK.
Restart your computer.

Tags: news, security, trick, Windows Vista, Windows XP

Related ArticlesLatest Articles

7 Comments to “How to prevent Conficker worm from infecting your computer”

Jerry Says:
March 27th, 2009

I think use tool like Autorun Protector is easier and it block using different method which I guess that is better.
kendall Says:
March 30th, 2009

I just did this for my parent’s computer (which is windows xp) but when i went to do this for my laptop (which is vista) it says it couldn’t find gpedit.msc. Any help?
David Dunbar Says:
April 1st, 2009

What you’re really doing with the updates and the steps is disabling your autorun feature.
For Vista, just open the start menu and in the search bar type “Autoplay”.
Run it, then uncheck the box at the top-left of the window and click save at the bottom-right.
David Dunbar´s last blog post..#2211: alden’s Genesis Desert Bus in 41:17:15:06, or in 1001:15:05.68 (Submitted by alden)
Web Talk Says:
April 1st, 2009

Thanks for the trick. I have to admit that it is much faster than the one I wrote on this post.
TOLITS Says:
April 2nd, 2009

using home edition operating system does not have a gpedit.msc
you can also disable the automatic updates in windows such as scvhost.exe select disable..
cmd:
services.msc
then select atumatic updates
the look for startup then select disable click ok…..
goodluck..
TOLITS Says:
April 2nd, 2009

conficker symptoms:
1. automatic removing of sounds
2. over flow of internet connection
3. unable to browse page
4. making computer stand alone
5. disableng network sharing….
file target is scvhost.exe -netsrvcs
1. reset all gadgest such as router,, make a strong password and user account……
Web Talk Says:
April 2nd, 2009

Thanks Tolits,
Actually this is the first time I read what the symtomps are. Very interesting indeed. All my readers are invited to check this comment and see if one or all the 5 points appear on their computers. Thanks again!