Conficker is a computer worm that automatically spreads itself to other PCs without human interaction. It is also known as Kido, Downadup and Downup and was first discovered by researchers on November 2008. Windows users who have installed the Microsoft security update MS08-067 that was released few weeks before the discovery of Conficker infections in PCs are safe. As we know already, many computers are not always up-to-date and this is the weakness that virus creators are taking advantage of, especially if the variants of Conficker worm are not detected yet by antivirus or anti-malware software. Conficker can also spread via file sharing and removable drives (USB, flash or external drives) by using the auto-play feature in Windows. The said worm has the ability to update itself or receive additional files for execution. Free Conficker removal tools have been released by antivirus vendors, including Microsoft.
Up to now the Conficker worm is still active as per Sunbelt's Top 10 Malware reports for June 2010:
"Although Trojans continue to dominate the top 10, June reveals interesting trends such as a fresh wave of Conficker-based detections, suggesting that this troublesome piece of malware is on its way back," said Sunbelt Software research center manager Tom Kelchner.
