3 Find out about another well-known example of aworm called Confiker.• What issues did Confiker cause?• Who did Confiker affect?• How was Confiker dealt with?

1. What issues did Confiker cause?

Conficker, also known as Downup, Downadup and Kido, was a computer worm that surfaced in 2008 and caused a variety of issues. It targeted the Microsoft Windows operating system and exploited a vulnerability in the system to create a botnet - a network of infected computers that could be controlled remotely. This botnet was then used to spread the worm further, carry out distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, and distribute spam emails and other malware. The worm also had the ability to disable important system services, block access to security-related websites, and download and install additional malicious software.

2. Who did Confiker affect?

Conficker affected millions of computers worldwide, across both personal and business users. It was particularly problematic for businesses, as it could spread rapidly across networked computers. Some of the most notable victims included the French Navy, the UK Ministry of Defence, and the German Bundeswehr. The worm also caused significant issues for many other organizations, including hospitals, government agencies, and universities.

3. How was Confiker dealt with?

Dealing with Confiker required a coordinated global effort. Microsoft released a patch to fix the vulnerability that Confiker was exploiting, and also offered a $250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individuals behind the worm. A group of companies and organizations, known as the Conficker Working Group, was also formed to combat the worm. This group worked to block the domains that the worm was using to communicate and control the botnet. Despite these efforts, Confiker remains active on many computers today, and continues to be a threat.