Our IT guy at work said that the basic security advice is to update windows, keep you AV on and updated.

Only computers user that should concerned should be the ones already infected and have already part of the botnet. For the rest of us not infected, keep windows fully patched and updated and do the same with your antivirus security software. We do access our work computers remotely and he is going to shut that down for 2 days to be on the safe side.

The conflictor bot net may be more of a publicity media event than anything else - as far as most home users are concerned.

http://news.cnet.com/faq-conficker-t...t-expect-boom/

But just to be sure, I use McAfee and I'm going to lock down my firewall before I go to work because I leave my computer on all the time.

going to share few last thoughts on this subject and then retire from this thread. LOL

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1) There are many school of thoughts on this. Do a search and we're going to find 100 different opinions about this worm.

is it more hype than threat? Probably, maybe

is it more threat than hype? Probably, maybe

one thing most experts DO agree on, is that the NEWEST version, IS unpredictable.

based on that alone. I would caution that any of the "experts" that says: "oh, as long as you're this and that, you'll be OK" (how would they KNOW, for SURE??)

2) with that said, it doesn't mean we should be frightened to the point that we are afraid to get on the internet.

I think we all should exercise caution and common sense when we surf the net and read our emails.

Of course, that's not fool proof.

3) updating anti-virus/spywares and updating patches are really important. Not just because of this worm but we should do it regularly anyways.

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personally, I think there is way more hype than the actual threat. But I might end up eating my words.

But we all need to be careful and cautious. Because NONE of us want our passwords and money to be stolen. NONE of us. I don't want to be a statistic

it is always hard for me when I read something to the effect of : "But statistically, only 5% will get infected"

WHO'd want to be in THAT 5%??????
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I've read and heard the debate about Vista being "safe"

I personally don't know. I would say this, update the Vista and don't get too complacent. There are contrary statements out there about Vista.

We have to remember ONE major thing. This worm was created because OF mircosoft's patch problems...

MICROSOFT....

notice that it doesn't affect Mac or Linux...

what are Microsoft Products??

Vista and XP and 2000 and.......

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off my soapbox...I hope no one gets infected and you all stay safe...

Thanks for the tips Moi. I'm updating our work computers that run XP. Doing an early backup today for March 31st and April 1st. Our server isn't connected to the internet but our workstations are. We have a hardware firewall named "The Troll" used for internet access. I'm doing all this extra stuff just in case.

I have McAfee virus protection. There is a "Lockdown Firewall"
option that states it "instantly blocks all inbound and outbound network traffic between your computer and the Internet. It stops all remote connections from accessing your computer and blocks all programs on your computer from accessing the Internet."

There is a button to click on for "lockdown". Should I activate this? If I do how do I deactivate it once the threat has passed? I don't want to do anything that's going to be hard to reverse.

good job on being pro-active, wizzy.

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kitty,

lockdown means it'll block all the in coming and out going traffic.

The only advantages to that is if you never shut down your computer (that you leave it in sleep mode) and if you were trouble shooting your computer and you don't want to be interfered by additional internet bugs while you're trouble shooting it.

it is the equivalent of unplugging your puter or your modem. But most people don't like to do that. So this program was created for those that want to just "unplug" it via their puter rather than plugging and unplugging

if you turn off your computer. You don't have to worry. If you let your puter fall asleep vs. shutting it off. You might want to just consider unplugging the modem(or just the ethernet wire that is connected to your puter) vs going through this feature.

I am not familiar with McAfee's firewall lockdown feature but I suspect it's the same as others. It might give you more trouble than the virus itself.

good question though.

*note. If you LOCK it down. You won't be able to access the internet (if you are able to, then the lockdown is NOT doing it's job.)

Thank you, Moi!

I told my boys I'm shutting the computer down tonight and leaving if off all day tomorrow. You'd have thought I told them that pizza was no longer available!

My Zone Alarm has a setting in the program section where i can set it to lock after any amount of time that I choose.

Also if I right click on the task bar icon for ZA - that lets me lock or unlock access.