Unpatched Windows PCs Conficker.c Worm Attacks Increase Greatly

We explain the importance of keeping your software up-to-date to prevent worm infections such as Conficker.c worm.

A computer worm that was known to attack Windows PCs was discovered a while back where Microsoft released a patch to prevent infection. It has been noticed by security researchers that this worm attack is increasing greatly affecting unpatched computers running Windows.

In the past we have warned computer users of the dangers of running a system with out-of-date software or operating system. This worm infection called Conficker.c or what some call Downadup.b, prompted an emergency patch by Microsoft to the Windows operating system back in October of 2008. The behavior of the Conficker.c worm is to perform a process that pings machines with malformed Remove Procedure Call (RPC) packets so that it may find computers running Windows that have not been patched with the October update. Other instances of the worm spreading include attacks through USB devices including flash drives or even digital cameras.

Other dangers of the Conficker.c worm is the ability to update itself where it blocks many known security software programs and install additional malware onto the affected system. Downadup.b, which is the name that Symantec Corp. uses for the Conficker.c worm, warned just recently through tracking that this infection is on an increase. Panda Security reported the same infection on December 31st of 2008. It is known that the Conficker.c worm affects unpatched versions of Microsoft Windows including Windows 2000, Server 2003, XP, Sever 2008 and Vista.

PCHubs.com recommendation to all Windows PC users

It is essential to get all updates and patches, including emergency patches, from Microsoft at any chance that you get. It is recommended that you utilize automatic updates for Windows where any security patches are downloaded automatically.

Security researchers can only do so much to warn computer users of the newly discovered dangers that present themselves over the internet. It is always a good idea to keep all of your software up-to-date running the latest version while staying abreast of all updates and security patches. Symantec already estimated that 3 million PCs were infected with the Conficker.c worm. With the discovered increase of Conficker.c it is only a matter of time before an additional 3 million computers are infected all because they failed to apply a security patch.