How to Protect Yourself from the Conficker/Downadup Worm

9 Million computers infected in one week!

That's 53571 computers infected every hour!

Unbelievable.

In what is now being called the worst Internet Virus attack ever, a new worm called Conficker - also known as Downadup, is literally running wild all over the world.

And this is not your everyday, annoying popup/slow down your computer virus.

This one is dangerous.

Extremely dangerous.

What Conficker does is it launches attacks to extract passwords from your computer and if and when it gets a hold of one, that is when the real damage is done.

If then uses the passwords it extracts to steal vital information from you - credit card info, bank account info, etc. and then phones home to its host server and passes that information on. This poses a huge risk that thousands and thousands of people could be subject to having their personal accounts accessed by the worm's author.

We are talking bank withdrawals, wire transfers, credit card transactions - you name it.

And if that happens, law enforcement and government agencies will likely be spread way too thin and people will begin to see delays of weeks or months before they can get any help.

On top of that, Conficker (a.k.a. Downadup) can also download malware and spyware down to your comptuer. This is important becuase people who may install an antivirus program because of this outbreak will not be completely protected as we're dealing with a complex and intelligent worm that uses both virus and spyware type attacks.

This means that if you only have Antivirus software or Antispyware software running on your computer you are not protected - you need BOTH (which is a good practice anyway)

Virus and security companies are already calling this an epidemic and expect it to get much worse before it gets better - meaning milliions more infected computers.

Here is what you need to do right now to protect yourself from this deadly worm:

1. Download and install the Microsoft Patch that closes up the exploit within Windows.

Here is the link to do that : Windows Update

2. Download and install Antivirus/Antispyware software

As mentioned above, it is important that you use software that is BOTH and Antivirus software and an Antispyware software because running one without the other will leave you vulnerable

PC Tools is the award winning company that produces what many consider to be the cream of the crop as far as computer protection goes and they give you a couple of options:

If you just want an Antispyware/Antivirus combo software you can download this:

Spyware Doctor with Antivirus

OR

If you want the whole enchilada (which I recommend) - meaning Antivirus, Antispyware, Firewall, and Spam Protection then you can download this:

Internet Security

If the enormity and speed of the Conficker virus epidemic hasn't convinced you that you need to have your computer protected against viruses and spyware, then I am not sure anything will.

And one day, you'll end up paying a heavy price for it.