Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:33 pm by globalturbo
An Internet blackout that will happen Monday has the webisphere scrambling.
Hundreds of thousands will be without Internet when the FBI shuts down selected servers supporting computers infected with the notorious virus, DNSChanger.
But are Internet hysterics warranted - or just hype?
The FBI is set to shut down servers that it initially created to support infected computers after the authors of the pesky malware were caught in November. Some reports put the number of U.S. Internet users who will go dark at less than 70,000 - a relatively small number of U.S. users.
Not sure if you're among the unlucky? The agency has offered a step-by-step plan on how to check to see if your computer has the virus.
The virus affected more than 4 million computers internationally. When infected users typed a domain name into their browser, DNSChanger rerouted them to fake ad sites, ultimately garnering millions of dollars for the six Estonian malware authors. The FBI opted to set up servers that would allow infected users to stay on the Web without the fake ads.
Even though the number of those who will be without the Internet might not be worthy of all the hype, the World Wide Web is a staple for getting through everyday life. And, whether reports are overblown will probably mean little to those who are going without on Monday. We want to know what the Internet means to you, so log in and tell uswhile you still can.
