300,000 Internet users could find themselves cut off from the Net in July

**Spacebunny** · 04-25-12 at 07:35 AM

The FBI estimates that nearly three hundred thousand Internet users worldwide could find themselves deprived of Internet connection in the month of July following the deactivation of a security system that protected the fabric of a network of hackers, TODAY 'Today dismantled, and that would have allowed its creators to pocket nearly $ 14 million.

Malicious software, known as DNSChanger, redirecting unwitting users to fraudulent sites, after they have yet entered a legitimate URL. He forced the victims to use, without them realizing it, the DNS server of Estonian hackers hidden behind this network.

When six of these hackers were arrested in November 2011 in Estonia (as part of an operation named "Ghost Click"), the network has been dismantled and replaced by the FBI with a new DNS server, "so that the Internet people can remain intact. "
A temporary solution

The concern is that this system was never intended to be a permanent solution. Originally, he was "running from November to March, we obtained an extension from March to July, but we do not want people to have a nasty surprise", explains a spokesman for the FBI.

So in July, the alternative DNS will expire. Although initially 568,000 computers were infected, it would seem that today, "at least three hundred thousand people" are still concerned, as explained by the investigators suggest that 360,000 machine continuing to connect to the backup network. These then would be left to private Internet, once the DNS FBI expired in July 2012.

Most victims are in the U.S., Europe and India. It is a simple way to check whether or not one is concerned, by connecting to the site

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www.dcwg.org

.
"If your computer is connected to the service, you will be notified and advice will be provided. If your computer does not depend on the system, you will have a green screen, and it means that your computer is not infected."

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http://www.pisqa.com/04/piracy-300000-internet-users-could-be-deprived-of-connection-in-july/

vp10120 · 04-25-12 at 07:52 AM

300,000 is not a big number on global scale. But i know i'll not get affected anyway :)

**ItalicPixels** · 04-25-12 at 01:13 PM

300,000 should really get Malwarebtyes'

Pollux. · 04-25-12 at 03:55 PM

300,000 should really install Linux.

Garden_Jack · 04-25-12 at 06:33 PM

300,000 should really use an abacus.

Saidou · 04-25-12 at 08:14 PM

Thanks I'm not infected!

hoh69_69 · 04-25-12 at 10:03 PM

Leo Laporte has been sounding off on this continually on his show The Tech Guy...

A. It is not a big number globally -- even less than the 500 000 Macs infected with the Flash virus. (And of course, Macs NEVER get viruses!

)

B. These people's computers are infected with bad malware, and need to be cleaned or have Windows reinstalled... This is the least of their problems.

C. This is actually a poor initiative by the FBI, while it is a nice gesture to the public to "fix" the problem for them, all it did was hide the true issue from them, which results in the infected user continuing to use their compromised computer without addressing the problem.

Leo also theorizes that this is just the tip of the iceburg of the government potentially doing things like this to "help" the public with the problem of spyware and viruses, however, it is just an attitude of sweeping things under the rug.

**DarnLiina** · 04-26-12 at 08:44 AM

I'm green, so I'm in the clear...
Lol Apple has that new gateskeeper thing. Eventually they'll start their own security apps.

**neophyte666** · 04-26-12 at 08:52 AM

I came up green.

Coming from a small village in the West Country in the UK I am not surprised.

**LesR** · 04-26-12 at 11:04 AM

Can I trust the FBI?

**jbgoode** · 04-26-12 at 03:00 PM

Thats okay, some cold turkey never done no one no harm.

music2soul · 04-27-12 at 11:00 AM

Thank u very much Spacebunny 4 this article.

04-25-12 at 07:52 AM	#2
vp10120 Expert Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Need to know? Posts: 584	300,000 is not a big number on global scale. But i know i'll not get affected anyway :)

04-25-12 at 01:13 PM	#3
ItalicPixels Elite Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Italic Ocean Posts: 2,191	300,000 should really get Malwarebtyes'

04-25-12 at 03:55 PM	#4
Pollux. Novice Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 153	300,000 should really install Linux.

04-25-12 at 06:33 PM	#5
Garden_Jack Newcomer Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Nope Posts: 66	300,000 should really use an abacus.

04-25-12 at 08:14 PM	#6
Saidou Newcomer Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 22	Thanks I'm not infected!

04-25-12 at 10:03 PM	#7
hoh69_69 Newcomer Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6	Leo Laporte has been sounding off on this continually on his show The Tech Guy... A. It is not a big number globally -- even less than the 500 000 Macs infected with the Flash virus. (And of course, Macs NEVER get viruses! ) B. These people's computers are infected with bad malware, and need to be cleaned or have Windows reinstalled... This is the least of their problems. C. This is actually a poor initiative by the FBI, while it is a nice gesture to the public to "fix" the problem for them, all it did was hide the true issue from them, which results in the infected user continuing to use their compromised computer without addressing the problem. Leo also theorizes that this is just the tip of the iceburg of the government potentially doing things like this to "help" the public with the problem of spyware and viruses, however, it is just an attitude of sweeping things under the rug.

04-26-12 at 08:44 AM	#8
DarnLiina Apprentice Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 302	I'm green, so I'm in the clear... Lol Apple has that new gateskeeper thing. Eventually they'll start their own security apps.

04-26-12 at 08:52 AM	#9
neophyte666 ℝα√їᾔℊ ☩ ℳαḓ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: υи∂єяgяσυи∂ яανє Posts: 6,822	I came up green. Coming from a small village in the West Country in the UK I am not surprised.

04-26-12 at 11:04 AM	#10
LesR Newcomer Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 12	Can I trust the FBI?

04-26-12 at 03:00 PM	#11
jbgoode Expert Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Way over yonder (expat) Posts: 571	Thats okay, some cold turkey never done no one no harm.

04-27-12 at 11:00 AM	#12
music2soul Novice Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 144	Thank u very much Spacebunny 4 this article.