Leftover Computer Virus Threatens Web Access, FBI Says

The FBI is warning of a computer virus that will strike next week.

You can read about it, and learn what to do in the articles included below; but here is what you can do to determine if your computer is infected.

Go to Google, and initiate a search for anything. If you're machine is infected, the following message will appear:

The message includes a link that will give you instructions on how to remove the virus.

Leftover Computer Virus Threatens Web Access, FBI Says

By Seth Stern - Jul 5, 2012 6:40 PM ET

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning that more than 252,000 computers worldwide still carry a virus spread by a fraud ring that was dismantled last year.

As a result, users of infected computers who don’t scrub their systems might lose Internet access next week, the FBI said.

The virus had redirected users to the thieves’ servers, said Tom Grasso, a supervisory special agent with the FBI’s Cyber Division in Pittsburgh. After the ring was broken up by authorities, the agency temporarily set up “clean” servers in November to prevent that from happening, a service that’s set to end on July 9.

An estimated 45,619 computer users in the U.S. still have the virus, down from an estimated peak of 175,365, Grasso said.

Google Inc. (GOOG), operator of the world’s largest search engine, has displayed warnings at the top of its search results for users with an affected computer since May, said Jay Nancarrow, a spokesman for the Mountain View, California-based company.

Computer users may check to see whether they’re infected by visiting www.dcwg.org, Grasso said.

The virus interferes with a computer’s ability to resolve domain names, making it appear that users are no longer on the Internet. Users who don’t fix the problem in advance will have to call their Internet-service providers for help reconnecting, Grasso said.

“I don’t think this is going to be like a doomsday event where there’s going to be panic on Monday,” Grasso said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Seth Stern in Washington at sstern14@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Steven Komarow at skomarow1@bloomberg.net

How to Remove Google Redirect Virus

The Google redirect virus prevents you from viewing the Web pages that you want to see on your browser. The virus can cause all types of problems. When you're browsing the Internet, the virus will redirect your page requests to fake websites and display fake errors on your computer screen. It's also prone to infect browsers like Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer. You can manually remove the Google redirect virus if your computer is infected.

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Press the "Start" button on your desktop and then click "Control Panel" button. Select the option "System and Security" and then select the "Device Manager" hyperlink. Click on "View" from the menu bar and select "Show Hidden Devices."

o 2

Scroll down the list until you see "TDSSserve.sys" and click on it to disable the option. Restart your computer. When your computer reboots, you should update the anti-virus removal tool on your computer.

o 3

Download and install a free anti-virus removal tool from the Internet on your computer. Use software tools like Google-Redirect-Virus-Remover for Windows XP and Vista, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, and SuperAntiSpyware to remove the virus.

o 4

Run the anti-virus removal tool, so that it will scan your computer and remove the Google redirect virus. The virus is known to corrupt Registry files, disable the Firewall and anti-virus removal tools that are running on your computer.

o 5

Check the LAN settings on the Web browser that you're currently using. If you're using Internet Explorer, select "Tools" from the menu bar and then select "Internet Options." Press the "Connections" tab button and then click on the "LAN Settings" button. Check to make certain that the option for "Use a proxy server for your LAN" is unchecked or disabled. Click the "OK" button and close the Web browser.

o 6

Check the LAN settings for Mozilla Firefox browser. Select "Tools" from the menu bar and then select "Options." Click on the "Advanced" tab button. Then click on the "Network" ta button. Go to "Settings" and check to make certain that the "No Proxy" radio button is enabled. Click the "OK" button and close the Web browser.

o 7

Download and run an anti-rootkit tool like "UnHack Me" to fix any redirect issues on your Web browser. Anti-rootkit tools are capable of detecting any hidden rootkits that can cause your Web browser to malfunction.They will also monitor your computer for malware infections.