Fears of Internet meltdown have been exaggerated (TechWorld)

A D · Mar 30, 2009

Conficker has been over-hyped say experts. Fears that the Conficker worm is setÂ to devastate the Internet on 1 April are unfounded according to security experts.

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imneazmh · Mar 30, 2009

:s What shall we do?

south · Mar 30, 2009

Security researchers had tried to clamp down on Conficker by blocking criminals from accessing the 250 Internet domains that Conficker was using each day to look for instructions, but starting 1 April, the algorithm will generate 50,000 random domains per day - far too many for researchers to connect with.

They couldn't shut down 250 domains? Sad.

Stian · Mar 30, 2009

How can it generate 50k random domains/day? They can't possibly register the names for free, so how will those registrations be funded?

This will definitely boost the value of 20-character .coms! Start regging, people! :lol:

south · Mar 30, 2009

pcproffenno said:
How can it generate 50k random domains/day? They can't possibly register the names for free, so how will those registrations be funded?

Only thing my caffeine deprived mind could think of was dynamic dns accounts?
Or maybe it modifies the hosts file of the infected computers to add the names, thereby not needing dns server info. If it did it on the fly to all the infected computers, perhaps a peer to peer thing, it could indeed be tough to keep up with.

This will definitely boost the value of 20-character .coms! Start regging, people! :lol:

Stian · Mar 30, 2009

south said:
Only thing my caffeine deprived mind could think of was dynamic dns accounts?
Or maybe it modifies the hosts file of the infected computers to add the names, thereby not needing dns server info. If it did it on the fly to all the infected computers, perhaps a peer to peer thing, it could indeed be tough to keep up with.

True, or it could be an April Fool's joke.

Seriously .. Everyone expects the worst and on April 1st nothing happens but a sign that says "April Fool's".

I also heard that 50k random domain names are already created by the worm and that it will contact them for instructions on April 1st.

I guess we'll have to wait and see.