The Conficker worm is slowly being activated after being dismissed as a false alarm, security experts said. Conficker, also known as Downadup or Kido, is turning thousands of computers into spambots and installing spyware. The worm started spreading last year, infecting millions of computers and turning them into “bots” that respond to commands sent from a remote server that effectively controls an army of computers known as a “botnet”.
The creators started using those machines for criminal purposes in recent weeks by loading more malicious software onto a small percentage of computers under their control. Conficker installs a second virus, known as Waledac, that sends out e-mail spam without knowledge of the PC’s owner, along with a fake anti-spyware program. The Waledac virus recruits the PCs into a second botnet that has existed for several years and specializes in distributing e-mail spam.
Conficker is one of the most sophisticated worms on the planet. The people behind this are very professional and absolutely know what they are doing. Conficker’s creators have installed a spam engine and another malicious software program on tens of thousands of computers since April 7.
Expect to see a different component or a whole new twist to the way Conficker behaves. PC security experts had feared the botnet controlled by the Conficker worm would be deployed on April 1st because it was programed to increase communication attempts from that date. The security industry formed the task force to fight the worm, bringing widespread attention that probably scared off the criminals who command the botnet.
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