Gameover Zeus

donny-gal

The action related to a strain of malware - meaning malicious software - known as Gameover Zeus. Its alternative names include GOZeus and P2PZeus.

The above is an extract from BBC News Technology Site, where we are being warned we only have 2 weeks to prepare from this attack.

What do you propose we need to do?

DG

Jivesinger

I think it means that if you are infected, it's a good opportunity to clean up your PC, although I don't totally know how that works or how the '2 week' figure was derived. (Maybe 2 weeks until the bad guys regroup.)

This seems to be where the 2 weeks came from:

http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/news-listings/386-two-week-opportunity-for-uk-to-reduce-threat-from-powerful-computer-attack

donny-gal

Ok. Think I am clean, but will run Malwarebytes in a day or 2, just to be on the safe side. avast seems to find any nasties, and gmail also has kept rubbish away too. DG

agrinnall

I suggest you do what it says on GetSafeOnline (it doesn't seem to be working at the moment, although it was a few minutes ago) and run one of the clean up programs that they link to. I ran the Symantec one and it didn't find anything. They don't have a link to Malwarebytes so it's possible that it's not yet capable of resolving the problem if you are infected.

Lumstorm

I think the main thing is to not worry the media love to built up a buzz about these viruses. These kind of scam have been around for ages and will continue to be around after.

As long as your are sensible and don't download links or images in emails, run as a limited user and keep software up to date I don't think there's much to worry about.

On a note why doesn't the media be more precise and instead of saying all computers and under threat, just say those running Microsoft Windows are under threat.

penon

Lumstorm wrote: »

I think the main thing is to not worry the media love to built up a buzz about these viruses. These kind of scam have been around for ages and will continue to be around after.

As long as your are sensible and don't download links or images in emails, run as a limited user and keep software up to date I don't think there's much to worry about.

Totally agree with Lumstorm, ransomware has been around for years and will continue to be around for years to come. Don't accept 'invoice' details from couriers your not expecting or nigerian prince offers that will make you a millionaire, keep windows uptodate and any anti virus software and 99% of the time you will be fine.

GunJack

cryptolocker is different.... make sure you have personal files (docs, pics, music, etc.) backed up on a different drive that isn't connected to your pc, as once it's encrypted you will have lost it (possibly even if you do pay up)

Enterprise_1701C

I will simply be making sure my backups are up to date, if anything gets through I will simply wipe and start again. Probably do my computer good to be wiped anyway, seem to have a lot of software that I simply haven't taken off when no longer needed.

Personally I think these things are backed by computer manufacturers - a lot of people are going to think their computer is done for and go out and get another one.

LustForLeith

I saw this on the news this morning and realised I didn't have any anti virus software on my iPad. Does anyone have any recommendations over a good one to install?

Thanks

swvillafan

@LustForLeith ~ you don't need anti virus on an iPad. It's pretty much a closed system so nasty's can't get through. Just make sure if you have a desktop / laptop that it is up to date

usignuolo

I am running Norton with auto updates. Does that cover it?