Ryan Is Rambling On Again

The problem with my site was actually caused by upgrading to a newer version of WordPress and not loading all of the files into the correct directory.  I thought the cosmic forces thing sounded cooler though.

Back in business.

What is going on at ITT-Tech Bensalem?  Our severs have been infected with the Conficker worm now for at least two weeks!  The school’s “higher powers” are aware of it but nothing has been done.  We are a tech school with a strong CNS program, but we can’t seem to eliminate this worm. However, we do have two really cool flat screen TV’s (that have been playing the exact same videos for months now)!  So, I guess all is good.

It’s just sad!!!

The Conficker worm infects any data storage device it comes in contact with.  That is how it spreads!  So, if you’ve attached any storage device (flash drive, school issued hard drive, cell phone, mp3 player, etc.) to ANY of the school’s computers, you are now probably infected with this worm.  I personally found it on all of my flash drives (which means that it spread to any computer that I used those flash drives in), the TWO hard drives that I use at the school, my laptop, and my desktop.  If you have saved any document to a flash drive from a school’s computer then went home and finished it on your own PC, you quite possibly have the Conficker worm on your flash drive and probably on your PC.  If you do find it, ask the CNS students and they will give you a tool that scans for and removes the worm.

There are numerous websites that provide documentation of the effects of this worm and removal/prevention methods for it.  It seems that our school doesn’t consider it a high enough priority to force someone to read those documents and follow the instructions.  Here are the first two that show up on Google:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conficker

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/962007

Let me hear from you if you’ve had any problems or contact with this annoying little worm.

***UPDATE (10/9/2009)***

It appears that the the school’s equipment has had this worm removed.  This has not helped any of the student’s whose equipment was infected.  Last night for example, in my IT321 class, three students and their school-issued hard drives were still showing signs of this worm.  Following are a few websites offering free antivirus programs for download that can detect this annoying worm:

Avira

Malwarebytes

AVG

If you can’t access these sites or complete the installation of the above antivirus programs, you are most likely using an infected system.  Try to find an uninfected system and download the following removal tool that will scan your entire system, including any connected flash drives, and remove the conficker worm: 

Symantec Removal Tool

After running this tool and rebooting your system, you should be able to install any of the antivirus programs listed above.

Good luck.