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No Chaos From Conficker Worm Yet

Most Computer Systems Still Running Smoothly

POSTED: 4:12 pm MST April 1, 2009
UPDATED: 5:29 pm MST April 1, 2009

The nasty computer worm that was supposed to re-awaken APril 1 and infect millions of personal computers hasn't caused the widespread problems many expected.

  • WATCH: Conficker Poses No Problems Yet
  • But that doesn't mean your computer is completely safe from the Conficker worm.

    Experts say what makes the Conficker worm so scary is that it can take control of your computer without warning, stealing financial information, shutting down Web sites and tracking key strokes.

    Jenna Foote said she has read the warnings and scanned the news stories.

    "I first thought about ID theft because I do my banking online and have lots of passwords on my computer," Foote said.

    The 21-year-old college student is like millions of other computer users, worried about the Conficker worm, a malicious computer infection that's poisoned millions of PCs and was expected to reac havoc across the country starting Wednesday.

    But so far there have been no major problems in the Phoenix area or anywhere else.

    Foote ran a scan on her system to make sure her computer wasn't infected.

    "I did feel like I needed to know," Foote said. "I was willing to take a couple minutes to figure it out and was relieved that I didn't have the worm."

    Alex Dewey with Best Buy's Geek Squad said they've received dozens of calls this week from customers concerned their computers may be in trouble.

    None of them appeared to have any Conficker chaos.

    Dewey warned, however, that just because this nasty warm didn't appear Wednesday doesn't mean it has gone away.

    "When these things originally come out only a couple of people get it," Dewey said. "It's through social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace that they can get spread, along with e-mail and downloading music."

    Foote said she already plans to re-check her computer system on a regular basis.

    "I'm thinking we're in the clear, but you never know," Foote said.

    The Conficker worm only affects users of Microsoft operating systems.

    To see if you are infected, try to access Microsoft and other anti-virus Web sites.

    If you can't gain access, it may be a sign that you are infected.

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