Enterprise Information Technology Services Press Release
The University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

OCIO > EITS > Press Releases

Thursday, March 26, 2009

CONTACT: EITS Help Desk,706-542-3106, helpdesk@uga.edu

Security Alert: Conficker (W32.Downadup.C) Set to Activate on April 1

ATHENS, Ga.— Information security professionals are warning of the Conficker (W32.Downadup.C) worm activation on April 1. The EITS Office of Information Security has prepared the following information regarding the Conflicker/Downadup worm:

Protection from the Conficker/Downadup Worm

Conficker is a worm that exploits a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows in order to download and execute malicious code. It will also infect any other vulnerable computers on the network. Variant C is especially dangerous as it will disable many security functions built into Windows, as well as most anti-virus programs, including F-Secure.

No user action is necessary for infection. Any computer connected to a network and/or the Internet with the Server service vulnerability is at risk.

The EITS Office of Information Security offers this quick test to determine if you are infected by this worm:

• Open a Web browser.
• Try to access f-secure.com. If access to this site is blocked, contact the EITS Help Desk at 706-542-3106.

To prevent a Conficker infection, make sure all Windows computers are up to date on any Critical Windows Update security patches, specifically MS08-067:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS08-067.mspx

The Office of Information Security distributes F-Secure—a free, site-licensed anti-virus/malware package—to UGA students, faculty, and staff. See the F-Secure download page for more information.

About the Office of the CIO and EITS
The Office of the Chief Information Officer and Enterprise Information Technology Services (EITS) are committed to the mission of UGA as a land-and-sea-grant institution where academics come first and the research extensive university community encourages research efforts at the undergraduate and graduate levels. To that end, under the direction of the University´s Chief Information Officer, EITS endeavors to provide a robust, reliable, and secure information technology infrastructure, maintain essential production services, and offer world-class support.