Sophos advice & video on avoiding DNS changer 'Internet Blackout'

Press release

Published July 8th, 2012 - 06:36 GMT

Al Bawaba

Tomorrow, July 9th, hundreds of thousands of computer users could lose their internet connection thanks to the legacy of the 'DNS Changer' malware.

In November 2011, the FBI seized control of rogue DNS servers that were being used by cyber criminals. The servers were redirecting PCs infected with the DNS Changer malware to a variety of money-making scams. The FBI took immediate action to make the DNS servers harmless, but they remained online and it is understood that 350,000 computers are still using them to connect to the internet. On Monday, July 9th, the servers are to be shut down permanently, which means that computers still using the rogue DNS servers will no longer be able to connect to the internet.

Sophos has created the following video to explain the history and impact of the DNS Changer malware, why so many are at risk of losing connection, and how users can check settings to ensure that they remain unaffected:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl7d6cDFDHo

Background Information

Sophos

IT security products have become as complex as the networks they’re trying to secure. At Sophos we know that the solution to complexity is not more complexity. We tackle security challenges with clarity and confidence, knowing that simple security is better security.