washington (ap) — warnings internet problem have been splashed across facebook , google. internet service providers have sent notices, , fbi set special website.
tens of thousands of americans may still lose internet service monday unless quick check of computers malware have taken on machines more year ago.
despite repeated alerts, number of computers infected more 277,000 worldwide, down 360,000 in april. of still infected, fbi believes 64,000 in united states.
users computers still infected monday lose ability go online, , have call service providers deleting malware , reconnecting internet.
problem began when international hackers ran online advertising scam take control of more 570,000 infected computers around world. when fbi went in take down hackers late last year, agents realized if turned off malicious servers being used control computers, victims lose internet service.
in highly unusual move, fbi set safety net. brought in private company install 2 clean internet servers take on malicious servers people not lose internet.
temporary system shut down @ 12:01 a.m. edt monday, july 9.
victims don't know computers have been infected, although malicious software has slowed web surfing , disabled antivirus software, making machines more vulnerable other problems.
popular social networking sites , internet providers have gotten more involved, reaching out computer users warn of problem.
according tom grasso, fbi supervisory special agent, many internet providers ready problem , have plans try customers. some, such comcast, have reached out.
company sent out notices , posted information on website. because company can tell whether there problem customer's internet server, comcast sent email, letter or internet notice customers computers appeared affected.
grasso said other internet providers may come technical solutions put in place monday either correct problem or provide information customers when call internet isn't working. if internet providers correct server problem, internet work, malware remain on victims' computers , pose future problems.
in addition individual computer owners, 50 fortune 500 companies still infected, grasso said.
both facebook , google created own warning messages showed if using either site appeared have infected computer.
facebook users message says, "your computer or network might infected," along link users can click more information.
google users got similar message, displayed @ top of google search results page. provides information on correcting problem.
check whether computer infected, users can visit website run group brought in fbi:
http://www.dcwg.org .
site includes links respected commercial sites run quick check on computer, , lays out detailed instructions if users want check computer themselves.
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