A serious worm, that may affect Windows computers, has been getting a great deal of press lately, including a scary segment on the popular TV show 60 Minutes. Many of our customers have been contacting Intego to ask if they are safe. Intego VirusBarrier detects and eradicates the Conficker worm so unwitting Mac users don’t pass it on to Windows-using friends or colleagues, or transfer it to their own Windows installations.
This worm, called Conficker, as well as Downadup and Kido, has infected unknown millions of Windows computers, and is expected to become active on April 1, 2009. For now, researchers are unsure of what the worm may do; it is just sitting on infected computers waiting for instructions. Researchers think it will connect to remote servers and download code and then become virulent.
This worm, which affects Windows computers, has no effect on Mac OS X; at least not yet. Intego’s Virus Monitoring Center is on full alert in case a Mac OS X variant of this worm should appear, but, so far, Mac users are in the clear. However, Mac users who run Windows on their Macs are at the same risk as those running Windows on PCs.
Intego VirusBarrier X4 and X5 with up-to-date virus definitions protect against the Conficker worm and its many variants. For those Mac users who use Windows, Intego VirusBarrier X5 Dual Protection includes solid Windows protection from BitDefender to protect their Windows installation. If a Mac variant of Conficker should surface, Intego will update VirusBarrier’s virus definitions as soon as possible.
