A computer worm Conficker (also known as Downadup or Kido) has infected a great number of Microsoft Windows computers over the world in the past few months. The Conficker, as all other worms, can infect your computer and spread itself to other computers across a network automatically, without human interaction.

The Conficker worm infects computers through exploiting a vulnerability of Microsoft Windows. Variants of the worm can also spread through file sharing and via removable drives, such as USB drives.

The Conficker worm can disable some important security services on infected computer. It also attempts to prohibit user from accessing some security sites.  As a result, an infected computer may be unable to download certain security products. Most anti-virus software can detect and block the worm.  If you have an updated anti-virus software with updated virus signature file on your computer, you are at a much lower risk of being infected by the Conficker worm.

Perform following tasks to protect your computer from Conficker worm infection:

1. Apply security patches from Microsoft Windows, in particular the security bulletin MS08-067 which was issued in October 2008
   
   
2. Install anti-virus software and keep the virus signature file up-to-date
   
   
3. Install and enable a personal firewall
   
   
4. Use strong passwords for user account and file shares
   
   
5. Disable AutoRun feature for removable devices, if possible
   
   
6. Enable and properly configure real-time detection to scan your machine for computer viruses and malicious code
   
   
7. Schedule a daily full system scan to check for viruses or malicious codes

Your computer may be infected if it fails connecting to websites of security vendors or downloading security updates. You should:

1. Disconnect the infected computer from the network.
   
   
2. Use a non-infected computer to download a malware removal tool to clean up the machine.
   http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
   http://www.bdtools.net/how-to-remove-downadup.php
   
   
3. Perform steps under Prevention to protect your computer.
   
   
4. Re-connect the cleaned computer to the network.

1. Information security impact arising from Conficker.C worm
   
   
2. Global Conficker worm outbreak, millions of computers fallen