14 DAY TRIAL // Because of the massive DNSChanger malware infection, a large number of users may lose their Internet access on July 9. That is why the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an advisory, urging people to make sure that by then their computers will be malware-free.
Initially, four million computers, spread out in 100 countries, were affected by the malicious element. Ever since the incident, security solutions providers, ISPs and state agencies have been working together, trying to clean up the mess.
They have even set up temporary DNS servers to give internauts more time to address the problem.
However, time is running out and according to the experts, the people who depend on the clean servers may find that they are unable to access the Internet if they don't rush to remove the threat.
“As of April 10, there were still more than 84,000 infected computers inside the United States, and it’s possible that many users may not even know they were infected,” Rand Beers, the Under Secretary for the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) wrote in a blog post.
“Please act now. The clean servers maintained by the private sector in coordination with the FBI will expire on July 9, 2012. Internet users who have the DNSChanger malware and whose Internet Service Provider (ISP) has moved them to one of the clean servers, may not have access to the Internet after this date,” he warned.
Beers recommends users to check their computers for signs of the malware by utilizing the solutions provided on the DNSChanger Working Group (DCWG) website. They offer resources to help victims detect and remove the Trojan, along with advice on how devices can be protected against it.
The figures on the DCWG site show that despite efforts, currently there still are over 350,000 victims of DNSChanger.
Remember, if by July 9 you are not Trojan-free, there’s a big chance that you will be blocked from accessing the Web.