Search form

Back to Blog

Web Giants Warn of Malware

FBITwo giants of the Internet want to make sure you can still get to them after July 9.

Google and Facebook are actively scanning the computers of their users to find some of the nearly 1 million people who have been infected with the DNSChanger malware in the U.S. Google is displaying a warning across the top of its search results page, while Facebook has placed a similar warning at the top of its post-login page. If a user’s computer is infected, Google and Facebook will know and display the warning. Users who are not infected will see no warning at all.

With so many computers potentially impacted by the DNSChange malware, it is no surprise that these two mega-sites want to help eliminate it. Any machine afflicted with the DNSChanger will not be able to connect to the Internet after July 9.

As reported by CNet, the whole problem goes back to an online criminal ring from 2007 that was tinkering with computers' settings and then directing users to rogue servers that the criminals had set up. These servers then re-directed users to malicious Web sites. Late last year, the FBI arrested the ring and seized the rogue servers. But since so many infected computers relied on the servers to reach the Internet, the agency opted not to shut them down and instead converted them to legitimate DNS machines. Due to the high cost associated with operating these servers, the FBI has decided to shut them down on July 9, leaving any infected computer that has not been fixed with no way to reach the Internet.

The Google and Facebook warnings offer links to information on how to remove the DNSChange malware. Anyone who thinks he may be a victim is encouraged to run a Google search, or log in to Facebook to find out for sure.

More

Teaching Mindfulness in the Early...

Just like teaching gratitude, mindfulness is an intervention with a wide range of cognitive, psychological, and physical benefits. On a personal level, you will want to practice mindful strategies on your own in order to truly incorporate them into your classroom practice.  Mindfulness is defined as 1. the quality or state of being mindful. 2. the practice of...

National Pretzel Day is April 26th-...

April 26th is National Pretzel Day!

Did You Know?

1. In 2015, archaeologists found what is said to be the oldest pretzel. Found in Regensburg, Germany, the remains of two pretzels about 250 years old were found, beneath the floor in what had been a bakery.

2. In 2015, a pretzel weighing 1728 lb(...

Practicing Gratitude Personally and as...

Gratitude has been shown to improve mental health and boost relationships, and it is said to be a game changer in a person's life (Mindful Communication and Such, 2024). Galindo stated, "Research has found that more grateful people have more brain activity in the medial prefrontal cortex, the area associated with learning and decision-making. In the research, this brain activity persisted a month later, suggesting that gratitude has long-lasting effects" (2024). 

Gratitude is defined...

In the News: Iceland Volcano Erupts

What do YOU know about the country of Iceland?

...

Leif Ericsson Day is October 9th. What...

 

October 9, 2023, is Leif Eriksson...

Using the News in the Classroom: Baby...

 
A baby giraffe was born at the Tennessee Zoo that is quite unusual. It has NO spots. The...

Creating An Online Professional...

The early childhood profession is constantly evolving. Today it is easier than ever to build a brand, show who you are as a professional, and put yourself out there as an innovative educator while learning yourself. I am always trying to stay abreast of current trends in education, learning new ideas, collaborating, sharing, and staying on top of new technology. We carry around a computer and television compacted down to the size of a small sandwich that will fit into our pockets. We are...

Creating a Professional Presence as an...

Professionalism as an early childhood educator is a vital component of being successful. There are many elements that encompass what a professional is, and in this article, we are going to address one piece of the puzzle. Having a professional presence as you grow and develop as an early childhood educator is an important aspect that some may look over. Having a professional presence can mean many things and is a powerful way to show your knowledge, skill,...

Pages