Approximately 64,000 Americans could
lose Internet access on Monday thanks to a criminal organization that infected
millions of computers around the world with malware called DNSChanger. This
malware was used to direct unsuspecting users to rogue servers controlled by
the cyber thieves, where they manipulated users’ web browsing activity and used
it for ad hijacking, allowing them to make millions of dollars in illicit fees.
DNS (Domain Name System) is an Internet
service that converts user-friendly domain names, such as www.fbi.gov, into
numerical addresses that allow computers to talk to each other. Without DNS and
the DNS servers operated by Internet service providers, computer users would
not be able to browse websites, send e-mail, or connect to any Internet
services.
After announcing criminal indictments
and seizing the rogue servers last November, the FBI obtained a court order and
worked with a non-profit to set up temporary clean DNS servers for victims
affected by the DNSChanger malware. But, says Supervisory Special Agent Thomas
Grasso of our Cyber Division, “On July 9, we’re going to be turning off those
servers. We’ve been using the last eight months to go out and clean up the
infected computers, but we don’t have everybody.” Grasso says he hopes that
people “follow our recommendations to: one, determine if they’re affected by
this; and then two, fix the problem.” For more information visit www.dcwg.org.
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