Conficker Removal Tool

This is the only tool that I have found to remove the Conficker Worm.  You can download it here.

Remove your Downadup infection!

BitDefender Labs has detected a new and more aggressive Downadup version on Saturday, 07.02.2009. It spreads using a Windows RPC Server Service vulnerability and is called Win32.Worm.Downadup.Gen.

The new version is more resilient to disinfection. Once the system is compromised, the worm disables Windows Update and blocks access to most of the anti-virus websites in order to hinder the user to disinfect his machine.

BitDefender is the first to offer a free tool which disinfects all versions of Downadup and is available for all infected users at: http://bdtools.net This domain is the first to serve a removal tool without being blocked by the e-threat.

The worm itself is not new, it made its first appearance late November 2008, known under the names Conficker or Kido as well exploiting the vulnerability described in the Microsoft security bulletin MS08-067. After successful exploitation it used to install rogue security software on the infected machine.

How to help IT fight the spies

A 2005 IDC survey listed spyware as the second-greatest threat to a company’s network security.  The research group estimates that 67 percent of all computers are afflicted with some form of spyware.  Here are a few ways to help combat them.

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Adding Vista computers to NT 4 domain

I found an interesting post on a Microsoft forum that provides insight on how to add a Vista computer to a legacy NT 4.0 domain. This worked on a pre-SP1 Vista machine. I still need to test on a SP1 machine. Read more

Demystifying Firewalls

A firewall refers to several types of hardware and software, and involves multiple different technical approaches. Firewalls are available for both business and home use, as freeware, and are even built into most standard operating systems.

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Create and customize user accounts

Do you have more than one person using your home computer? If you do, you can create user accounts for everyone in your home so that they can set up Windows XP with unique favorites, colors, wallpaper, and private files. You can even create a guest account for visitors to use.

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Set up your computer so that only authorized people can use it

If someone needs to use your computer for a brief amount of time, activate a Guest account and then deactivate it when he or she is done.

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