Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity
    • IT Management
    • Networking

    Five Free Tools to Help Exterminate Conficker

    By
    Brian Prince
    -
    April 2, 2009
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Though the Conficker hype has died down, there are still people on the lookout for remediation and detection tools to make sure their networks stay safe.

      There is still cause to be on guard, and those who are infected and have not cleaned their PCs are still subject to the plans of the attackers, who could still update the worm at any moment. For this reason, security vendors and researchers have scrambled to provide methods to detect and remove Conficker. The worm spreads by targeting a patched vulnerability in Microsoft’s Server service. It also propagates through network shares by logging onto computers with weak passwords, as well as through removable media.

      We have developed a short list here of some of the free tools out there that can be used to fight off the worm. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, and other organizations such as the Conficker Working Group, aka the Conficker Cabal, have additional recommendations.

      • F-Secure: F-Secure has made a free tool available here. The link to the tool is at the bottom of the FAQ page.
      • BitDefender: BitDefender offers tools for both single PC removal and network removal. The tools can be downloaded here.
      • SecureWorks: Technically this is not a tool. But Joe Stewart, director of malware research for SecureWorks, came up with a simple method of detecting Conficker that uses one of the worm’s defenses against it. The worm blocks access to certain security sites. If you cannot load the images posted in the first row but can load those in the second, you may be infected with Conficker.
      • Nmap: This is an open-source network scanner that has been updated to remotely scan for Conficker infected PCs.
      • McAfee: McAfee’s stand-alone Avert Stinger utility has been updated to remove Conficker.
      • Symantec: Symantec has a removal tool available here.

      Trend Micro has also provided advice on how to get around Conficker’s attempts to block security sites. Information on that is provided here.

      Brian Prince
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×