jsinger - 9:27 pm on Jan 26, 2009 (gmt 0)

My Windows (XP) was updated and quite legal. That's why I'm leery of Micrsoft blaming users. I was using IE 7 but reports indicate that FF is equally vulnerable. I was NOT running antivirus software.

I forgot to mention that this worm seems to be evolving...learning. The blocking of system restore wasn't a feature of early (October) infections which some reported could be cured simply by turning back the date. Even recent strains can be disinfected but the methods announced so far have been complex.

Another odd feature is that those infected rarely have any idea how or where they contracted it. Perhaps there is a time delay. It's not like when a newbie clicks on an email attachment and all hell breaks loose.

What I did was to mothball the 2 1/2 year old machine and buy a pricey new unit from Dell which I'm using now with a full arsenal of malware protection. Eventually I'll probably wipe the old one clean. I needed a new computer anyway, plus this forced me to upgrade security on all our units. So-- for me -- there was perhaps a net benefit.

But in these tough times this epidemic is going to cause serious problems for most victims in the form of time offline (no shopping) and financial loss.