How to get rid of the Conficker worm

Conficker is a worm designed to attack Microsoft Windows operating systems. The worm proliferates from one computer to another over a network without human intervention. The infected computer may or may not show symptoms of an infection. If it shows any symptoms then these must be blocked account policies; disabled security software, automatic updates and error reporting service, among others; congested network; deleted computer restore points; slow internet connection; and inaccessible online virus scanning and other virus removal service websites, among others. Considering that Conficker needs immediate removal, we have compiled a free virus removal support guide for you.

Instructions:

Download Microsoft Safety Scanner, a free online virus detection tool from the Microsoft website and save it to your computer. Then open the setup file and install the tool. When you’re done, run a full virus scan and wait for it to complete. When finished, ask the tool to delete the infected files found in the scan. Close all windows.

Download the latest Windows updates using the built-in Windows update utility or from the Windows update website. Make sure you are connected to the Internet when downloading updates. When you’re done, install the updates and restart your computer when prompted. When finished, launch your web browser and download the Microsoft Malicious Removal Tool from the Microsoft website.

Install and run the tool as mentioned above. When finished, update the tool with the latest virus definitions. Thereafter, run a full antivirus scan of your PC and wait for it to finish. When you’re done, check for virus-infected files and ask the tool to remove them. Exit the tool window.

Now start your antivirus program, update it, and then run a full virus scan again. Follow the same procedure mentioned above to scan and remove the infected files. This should be done to ensure that no traces of the Conficker worm remain on your computer. You can even check the history and location of the worm in your antivirus program’s registry. When you’re done, close all windows. Open and empty the Recycle Bin.

Thereafter, download a registry cleaning tool and save it to your computer. Thereafter, open the setup file and install the tool. Before running the tool, make sure to backup your registry. Since the registry is the heart of an operating system, any incorrect changes to it can cause a computer crash or other serious problems. When you’re done backing up the registry, open the tool and run a scan of your registry. Then fix any errors that the tool brought to the scan. Your computer should now be free of the Conficker worm.

Additional Information:

We have not explained the manual Conficker virus removal procedure here. It is because it involves killing the worm processes, deleting the associated files, and modifying the registry to get rid of the worm completely. It is quite a long and cumbersome procedure. You should not do it manually unless you are well versed in the things mentioned above.

The Conficker worm has different variants such as W32/Conficker, W32/Worm.AHGV, Worm/Conficker.worm.gen, Net-Worm.Win32.kido.bg, Win32/Conficker.AA and Worm:Win32/Conficker.B among others. .

The Microsoft Safety Scanner tool expires every 10 days. Therefore, you must download it again after 10 days to run an online virus scan. This should be noted that the tool is not a substitute for an antivirus program. You must have antivirus protection installed on your computer to keep it from such threats.