The DNSChanger virus could cause a partial web blackout in Italy on Monday, July 9th. Here’s why and what to do.
For years – and more precisely since 2007 – there has been a virus circulating from PC to PC: it is the DNSChanger malware.
Affected devices are automatically directed to specially configured servers to hijack traffic to illegal and fraudulent sites. Precisely because of this characteristic, the malware has “earned” the name that evokes – of course – changing DNS.
However, the time has come to stop the advance of this virus, and there is a specific date when something concrete will be done: on Monday, July 9, 2012, the FBI – which was responsible for dismantling the virus creators – will shut down the servers involved in this chain generated by the malware.
This, however, will pose a problem for internet users unaware of having contracted the DNSChanger virus: once those servers are shut down, they will no longer be able to browse the internet.
What, then, can be done to avoid all this?
It is necessary to check if you have been affected by DNSChanger before Monday.
In these hours, many telephone providers are warning their customers of the threat, inviting them to use the tools provided to understand if the malware is in their system or if they are otherwise safe.
If so, you will need to proceed with cleaning your PC, following the instructions of your reference provider once again, or consulting the advice of Avira, a software house that has developed a dedicated tool.
Naturally, the always valid precaution is to equip yourself with antivirus software and keep it always updated, proceeding with periodic downloads of updates and then performing PC scans from time to time.
Here is an explanatory video on the worldwide spread of DNSChanger.
As can be seen, Italy is significantly affected by the malware.
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