Over 250,000 Computers Infected with DNS Malware

     This Monday will find Internet users across the globe left without a connection. The computers impacted will be those that are still infected with the now five-year-old DNS malware. According to Samantha Murphy from Mashable.com, the FBI is planning to shut down the DNS servers it used last November to keep infected computers connected to the internet. The use of these friendly servers was originally planned to last only four months but it was extended until this Monday because estimates of infected computers around the world is over still 250,000. Luckily there are a number of warnings for those who have the DNS malware on their computers, as well as easy ways to check to see if your system is infected.

     The easiest way to see if your computer has the malware is to visit the DNS Changer Check-up site. Once you enter the site your system will be checked with the results easily identifiable through a large image showing the results. If your computer tests positive to the malware detection, a group called DNS Changer Working Group has a list of anti-virus tools to remove the trojan. Obviously it's important to check your system prior to Monday as it will be considerably more difficult to install an anti-virus program without an Internet connection.

A number of warnings have been given to infected computers in order to minimalize those who are left without an Internet connection on July 9.

     The Internet servers that the FBI set up were a temporary measure initiated after a group of hackers allegedly began posing as Internet advertisers who were paid by the number of times an ad was clicked. The hackers figured out a way to beat the system by creating a piece of malware, called DNS Changer, that redirected millions of Internet users to sites they didn't search for. The sites advertised fake products and allowed the hackers to earn money from the sale of these products and the advertising. The process is referred to as click hijacking. This happened back in 2007 and reportedly infected more than 4 million computers. In addition to the FBI, both Google and Facebook have set up warnings for those who are still carrying this malware in their system. 

     The hackers went uncaught from 2007 until 2011 and brought in upwards of $14 million. While the warnings are difficult to miss due to their prominence, there are sure to be people who miss the warnings. If you know someone who has lost their Internet connection on Monday they will need to call their Internet Service Provider to resolve the issue. As always, it's best to make sure you have a reliable security program installed on your computer to protect you from infection.