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Alex Lo

It is at a time like this that computer users may be happy they are using older versions of Microsoft Windows.

This is because the Blaster worm only targets computers running on more recent operating systems - Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT 4 and Windows Server 2003.

These systems all share a known vulnerability that allows the worm to sneak into a victim's machine via the internet and then spread to other computers.

Infected systems either slow down significantly or there are repeated restarts and rebooting, which happens especially on Windows XP systems.

If a computer merely slows down, then there is enough time to download patches, or to take corrective measures.

The site www.hkcert.org/, operated by the Productivity Council's Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Co-ordination Centre, provides specific internet links to free Microsoft patches for each of the affected operating systems. A free virus/worm removal tool can also be downloaded at vil.nai.com/vil/stinger.

Instead of downloading the patches directly from the internet from a malfunctioning machine, you may also use a 'clean' computer to download the patch on to a floppy disc and then transfer it to the affected computer.

Because of a default feature on Windows XP, infected computers may reboot continuously. In this case, the default must be disabled before the patch can be applied.

The HKCert website provides the following guidelines: Open 'control panel' and choose the 'performance and maintenance' category; pick the 'administrative tools' icon and then double-click on the 'services' icon; in the 'services' window, double-click on the 'remote procedure call' (RPC) service. Then click on the 'recovery' tab; change all the default settings of failure actions from 'restart the computer' to 'take no action'.

When you have patched and cleaned up your system, reactivate the default.

Microsoft patches are available for download at: www.microsoft.com/security/. Then follow the links to the patches.



Older versions of Windows have immunity