10 ways to remove Conficker virus from your computer

What is Conficker?

Conficker is supposed to be the biggest worm attack of this time,which hits around 350 million PCs and is one of the hottest topic.Confick is also known as Conficker, Downup, Downadup and Kido.The main target of this virus is again Microsoft Windows operating system (If you are an linux user then you need not to worry).It is noticed around October 2008 and targets the exploits in previously patched vulnerability in the Windows Server service of Microsoft.

Targeted Operating Systems: Windows 2000, Windows XP,Windows Server 2003,Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 Beta, and Windows Server 2008 R2 Beta.

Here are the 10 methods to remove the Confiker / Conflicker virus:

1. Department of Homeland Security -DHS Releases Conficker/Downadup Computer Worm Detection Tool
2. Bitdefender - Win32.Worm.Downadup.Gen
3. Enigma Software - Information about Conficker Removal Tool
4. ESET Securities - “Eset - Win32/Conficker.AA”
5. F-Secure - “Worm:W32/Downadup.AL”
6. Symantec - “W32.Downadup Removal - Removing Help”.
7. Sophos - “Conficker Clean-up Tool - Free Conficker detection and removal”
8. Kaspersky Lab - “How to fight network worm Net-Worm.Win32.Kido”
9. McAfee can remove this when you click on an on-demand scan.
10. AVG can remove this when you click on an on-demand scan.You have to download the latest version as older one will not work anymore on the victim computer.

How to Remove the Conficker C Worm

If you neglected to patch your Windows operating system with Microsoft’s security update that plugged a hole in the Server service, you might find yourself infected with the Conficker C worm. This threat is triggered on April 1st of 2009 and attempts to download files from a list of addresses, redirects DNS requests to certain sites (it doesn’t want you finding a fix for it!) and stops some Windows services and processes. Here’s how to remove the Conficker C Worm.

I work alot with Symantec products, so I will outline the use of their removal tool. If you prefer a different antivirus software, see the links at the bottom of this tutorial.

1. Download the FixDwndp.exe file from Symantec.

2. Save the file to your desktop.

3. Burn the file to a CD (using a flashdrive may result in getting your USB drive infected).

4. Close all open folders and applications. Disconnect the infected computer from your network.

5. Turn off System Restore.

6. Execute FixDwndp.exe (the one from the CD you just burned).

7. Click the I Accept button to accept the EULA.

8. Click the Start button to begin scanning your computer.

9. Once finished, the tool will display the number of deleted and repaired files and the number of fixed registry entries.

10. Reboot your computrer.

11. Run the tool again to make sure that the threat has been removed from your computer.

12. Once you have completed all the above steps, you may turn System Restore back on.

If you prefer to use a different tool, here are some other options:

BitDefender

Kapersky

TrendMicro

Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool

McAffee

Source