Miscellaneous Forum

both our computers check out GREEN as well; our local computer guy alerted us to this about a month ago; here's hoping that there's no glitch, as we don't have much choice here for getting any service......

Years ago, there was a trojan that infected a number of Windows based computers, and routed web site based information through a criminally run computer system. The trojan (not really a virus as it didn't spread by itself) would redirect the web browser to look at the criminal computer system rather than the real web site. Other than the attempt to collect information as the request to visit web sites went through the system, everything would appear normal so many didn't realize there was a problem. Imagine, if you will, a post office box that someone puts out on the street for people to put their mail into. It looks just like a real post office box, and delivers most mail just like a real post office box would, only if the mail contained something of value it would be opened and have the valuable information extracted. That is essentially what these guys did, only redirecting requests to view web sites instead. The FBI and a few other law enforcement agencies shut these guys down, but realized that there were several hundred thousand computers all over the world that were pointed to the criminal computer system. Many of those were commercial computer systems of some sort or another. Therefore, to avoid a massive internet outage for all those computers, they set up a second false computer system that would take the place of the criminal computer systems, and continue functioning as normal (basically, replacing the false mailbox on the street with a real one that was a legitimate one). They are now closing this secondary false system, after running it for quite a while, so they don't have to maintain it any more.

green, happily. only took a second or two, worth doing.

Glenn, thanks for that explanation. I caught only the last part on the TV and was able to scramble and find pen and paper to write down the important web site to check.

If you are able to get online now then you never had a problem.

>>>If you are able to get online now then you never had a problem. So, does that mean I don't need to go to the website Kathy suggested? I heard about this too, but figured that my computer would not be a candidate for any high tech snoopers. :-) I am on line now with no apparent problems.

yes, Linda, that is correct it was posted on Sunday afternoon that computers which were compromised would be non-op by midnight so, this being Tuesday.....don't waste any more time on it! probably that site doesn't exist anymore either.

Yes, absolutely so. The warning about the FBI closing down their support has been publicised for months. Anyone whose computer had been compromised would immediately have lost internet access. So anyone who had internet access after the deadline does not have a compromised computer. :-)

At least, not compromised by the virus that the FBI were investigating. The FBI successfully found and charged those responsible for the re-direction virus last year, but continued their support (with publicity) in order to enable owners to clean up their machines: fbi.gov/news/stories/2011/no...

Thanks! Good to know. :-)