FBI Server Shutdown Threatens Web Access

Thousands of people whose computers were infected with malicious software more than a year ago face the possibility of not being able to get online.The FBI has shut down internet servers set up as a temporary safety net to keep computers infected by cyber criminals online for the past eight months.The problem began when international hackers created a piece of malware named DNSChanger, which infected computers and redirected them to malicious websites, making those behind it millions of pounds through ad hijacking.When the FBI went in to take down the hackers late last year, agents realised that if they turned off the malicious servers being used to control the computers, all the victims would lose their internet service.The bureau brought in a private company to install two clean internet servers to take over for the malicious servers.The court order the agency obtained to keep the servers running has expired and is not being renewed.Internet providers have set up helplines and users have been encouraged to check their Twitter feeds or Facebook for malware.Marcin Kleczynski, chief executive of Malwarebytes, which makes a free piece of software designed to remove this kind of malware, said: "The FBI left the criminal servers running to give infected users time to remove this piece of malware, however it is estimated there are still hundreds of thousands of people who just don't know they are infected."Monday is D-day because anyone who still has this piece of malware on their computer simply won't be able to access the internet."This means people will struggle to repair the problem because they won't be able to download removal tools or access information through the infected laptop or computer."The total cost could be significant."An FBI spokesman said: "We've been using the last eight months to go out and clean up the infected computers, but we don't have everybody."