Ready to Retain Internet Access Through the DNSChanger Shutdown?

Posted on July 9th, 2012. Written by Rico.

By 1PM Philippine time today, the US FBI will shut down two servers, a move that may cut the internet connectivity of thousands throughout the world.

Just to be clear, there’s no cause for panic. In fact the situation has been so widely documented that I’ll just let others do the talking:

In 2007, cyberthieves created malware, dubbed DNSChanger… The malware depended on a basic Internet principle called DNS (Domain Name System), which is how Internet routers know where to send your Internet requests—that is, how to translate a URL like www.time.com into a numeric IP address when you type it into your browser’s address bar.

Computers infected by DNSChanger had their local DNS information changed and were redirected to fraudulent servers that delivered Web-based ads that eventually channeled millions of dollars to the malware authors.

But the bad guys were caught last November and their servers seized. Given the number of infected computers, the FBI elected to leave the servers running sans ads, instead launching an awareness campaign to get users to disinfect before a shutdown date: July 9, 2012.

So good morning dear readers! Whether or not you’ve heard about DNSChanger before today, here are two steps you should take now:

1. Visit this website to determine if your computer is infected by DNSChanger
2. Check out this page for a list of tools that can detect and remove DNSChanger from your PC