Have you been hurt by the Microsoft virus, Conficker?

Microsoft just released a warning from a new virus dubbed conficker. The virus, a worm spreads through the internet, disgusing itself as an official Microsoft virus protection patch. Once it installs itself, it blocks the pathway for actual patches that remove it. 

The worm has been around since November, but the most recent variant is programmed to connect to other computers on April 1 and as a result has triggered mass confusion and a media frenzy.

The worm exploits a vulnerability in Windows that Microsoft patched in October, as well as through network shares and removable storage devices like USB drives.

The latest variant shuts down security services, blocks connections to security Web sites, downloads a Trojan, and connects to other infected computers via peer-to-peer technology. It also includes a list of 50,000 different domains to reach out to for updated copies or instructions, but only 500 of those will be contacted on April 1. Earlier versions of the worm attempted to contact 250 domains.