Hundreds of Thousands May Lose Internet in July

April 23, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — For computer users, a few mouse clicks could mean the difference between staying online and losing Internet connections this summer.

Unknown to most of them, their problem began when international hackers ran an online advertising scam to take control of infected computers around the world. In a highly unusual response, the FBI set up a safety net months ago using government computers to prevent Internet disruptions for those infected users. But that system is to be shut down.

The FBI is encouraging users to visit a website run by its security partner www.dcwg.org... that will inform them whether they're infected and explain how to fix the problem. After July 9, infected users won't be able to connect to the Internet.

Most victims don't even know their computers have been infected, although the malicious software probably has slowed their web surfing and disabled their antivirus software, making their machines more vulnerable to other problems.

Last November, the FBI and other authorities were preparing to take down a hacker ring that had been running an Internet ad scam on a massive network of infected computers.

"We started to realize that we might have a little bit of a problem on our hands because ... if we just pulled the plug on their criminal infrastructure and threw everybody in jail, the victims of this were going to be without Internet service," said Tom Grasso, an FBI supervisory special agent. "The average user would open up Internet Explorer and get 'page not found' and think the Internet is broken."

www.myfoxdetroit.com... ... 0120420-ms

Plese cleck out the link to see if your computer is infected.

The good news is that there is a fix if you are infected, I check and glad to say mine in ont infected.

Been posted earlier today.....www.abovetopsecret.com...

Isn't this being overblown a little bit?

They can get back on the Internet July 9, they just need to format their hard disk and erase all that junk off.

Then they can start over new and fresh.

reply to post by muzzleflash


No thank you muzzleflash, why would any one want to do that, I have never had to do anything like that and I have been on line since 1992..

reply to post by muzzleflash

Yeah, sound like a Windows problem? I run Linux, and I have never got a virus.

reply to post by Aquarius1


Starred and flagged at the news of your passing sweet lady. I remember your interest in the art I posted on my
P. R. page.
Very sad to hear of your passing. Travel well sweetheart.