The Zotob Worm - Is Your Computer at Risk?
This worm is the latest of many infections that can affect computers running Windows.
This worm is not as much of a threat as others have been, however. Zotob only affects computers running Windows 2000, so if you're running Windows XP (or an older version like 98 or Me) you're not in any danger.
What's with the Media Frenzy?
The Zotob worm seems to have set off quite a frenzy in the media. It's been getting a ton of press over the last couple of days.
I suspect part of the reason for this is that some big-name media outlets like CNN and Disney ran into problems caused by this worm.
Because the Zotob worm only affects Windows 2000, it hasn't hit as many home users as some previous ones such as Sasser or the Blaster worm, which affected Windows XP. Many large companies are still using Windows 2000, so they seem to have been hit harder.
How Do You Protect Yourself?
If you are running Windows 2000, make sure you have installed all the latest security updates from Microsoft. These can be installed from the Windows Update website at www.windowsupdate.com.
Even if you're running virus protection software, it won't necessarily stop these kind of infections. A worm is technically not a virus, and without getting into a lot of technical detail, antivirus software doesn't always stop it.
The best way to protect yourself is to install the latest updates for Windows on a regular basis.
Microsoft issued a security bulletin over a week ago with the details of this vulnerability in Windows 2000, along with the security update.
The fact that so many companies were infected by the Zotob worm shows that they don't always get these updates installed right away. Updating hundreds, or even thousands of computers in an office environment requires a lot of resources. For the average user, it isn't difficult and this is a very good example of why it needs to be done regularly.