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Conficker Worm Warning for Windows Vista & XP

A new version of Conficker, a worm that disables Windows security features, is expected to strike on Wednesday, April 1, 2009. We strongly recommend that you update your operating system and virus definitions, and run a full scan of your computer.

To date, Conficker (a. k. a. Downadup or Kido) has infected up to 15 million computers worldwide. The worm is known for blocking access to the McAfee and Windows Update Web sites, exposing infected computers to malicious software, and using password-cracking software to break simple passwords.

What can I do to protect my computer?

Since Conficker is known for disabling access to security Web sites, we strongly recommend that you complete these steps as soon as possible:

How do I know if my computer is infected?

If you cannot access any of the Web sites below, your computer is probably infected. Alternatively, you can download and use the McAfee Conficker Detection Tool.

We recommend that you use your anti-virus software to clean your machine. Most anti-virus software will detect and remove Conficker.

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