princessxavier:

doofdoof:

Soooo. Before I start I’d just like to mention that Macs and Linux users are unaffected. The trojan is only on Windows. Anyway; you may have been getting messages cropping onto your dashboard which look a little like this:

Or even this:

Well, I can say for one thing that this is 100% completely legit. Seriously, the virus it’s talking about (Which is actually a Rootkit) is a type of malware called “TDSS”. There are loooooooads of variants on these including “TidServ” and “Alureon”. The trojan itself is very harmful to your computer. Basically what it does is infects the Master Boot Record and deploys it’s own file system. It creates it’s own rules about the system before Windows ever loads. It will also redirect Google search result links to unrelated websites (Mainly advertisements. Most are legitimate companies but some aren’t.), It will remove your ability to run various programs - It wont even tell you. It will just not open at all. Included programs are anti-viruses and anti-malware programs that will help you remove it. It will also block access to various sites, including computer help sites and security sites. Oh, and it will slow down your browsing quite a bit too. On top of all of this, it stays completely invisible to Windows and anti-malware programs, as well as downloading (and executing) further malware. This thing is not a joke. It is real. And it can do some serious damage. 

From what I have read, the FBI have set up some kind of safety net (i.e. two new internet servers not affected by TDSS). Said safety net will be removed tonight. I believe TDSS has the capability to spread itself around the internet as well. Which is precisely why the FBI are taking down the internet to those who happen to have TDSS on their system. 

This part is important. If any of the detection sites came up red, get this program now to remove it before your internet goes.

http://support.kaspersky.com/faq/?qid=208283363

This is TDSSKiller, a program made by Kapersky Labs. It will scan the computer to see if you have it on your computer and remove it completely. A reboot will most likely be necessary. This thing works most of the time pretty much. However if it does not work, the only other easy way to remove it (and the most recommended way coincidentally)  is to COMPLETELY wipe your hard drive clean and re-install Windows. Thus completely wiping out TDSS.

That is all. 

Thank you.

-Lin

Reblogging this one because it’s a lot more informative than most other posts I’ve been seeing.

I am still not believing in that thing.