'Malware Monday' More Bark Than Bite

ISPs say they've been working to keep affected customers online
By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 9, 2012 2:53 AM CDT
Updated Jul 9, 2012 5:00 AM CDT
DNS Changer Shutdown Hits the Internet
This undated handout image provided by The DNS Changer Working Group (DCWG) shows the webpage.   (AP Photo/DNC Changer Working Group)

With about 64,000 computers in the United States in danger of getting cut off from the Internet at midnight last night once the FBI shut down two servers connected to the DNSChanger virus, the dawning of a new day is set to bring ... well, precious little, reports the Wall Street Journal. Top Internet service providers said they had already made moves to ensure their customers did not lose their Web connection (AT&T went so far as to say it had worked to make sure none would), and just in case they all had extra tech support on hand to help those who needed it.

And Threatpost points out that virus, which once infected 4 million computers worldwide, was down to 300,000 by yesterday, giving it a cleanup rate of more than 92%. "So why all the fuss? asks Paul Roberts. Blame the media, for one. Though they "often steer away from technically complicated technology and security stories," they can't resist a good deadline story, he writes. "The ticking time bomb meme is really too much to resist." But perhaps this Techcrunch article is the most succinct and accurate on the subject (we're assuming it's about DNSChanger, anyway).

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X