Some computers to be booted offline Monday

Starting Monday, your computer may lose its Internet access to the World Wide Web. Tens of thousands of computers are thought to still be infected with malicious software that will end a computer’s ability to access the Internet.

The issue has been continue for almost a year now, computers downloading the D.N.S. Changer malware and on Monday the FBI’s temporary solution for infected computers will come to an end.

Dallas Standly, a member of the Geek Squad from Best Buy in Bend, said Friday that it’s very easy to have malware installed onto a computer without the owners knowledge.

“Unfortunately, nowadays it’s pretty easy to get malware,” Standly said. “Without a good virus protection program or smart surfing of the Internet, you can contract malware pretty easily on your computer.”

Just under 250,000 computers are expected to lose their Internet connection to the World Wide Web.

“(DNS Changer) is almost like a virus on your computer. It can slow it down, cause it to crash — basically make it act in ways you don’t want it to,” said Standly.

The problem began almost a year ago when international hackers used an online scam to install malware on more than half a million computers worldwide.

When the FBI went to shut down the hackers, they realized that if they turned off the servers used to install the malicious software, those infected would lose their Internet access.

“Monday is when they’re going to start really cracking down on machines that have the malware installed on it,” said Standly.

To check if your computer has the malware installed, visit www.DNS-OK.us

Once the Website loads, an image will appear, indicating ifthe computerhas the malware or not. If the image is green, then the computer is not infected. If it’s red, a list of steps to remove the malware will be listed.

“There is a couple of different ways you can go about removing malware. There’s anti-virus programs that will help you remove malware that’s on your computer,” said Standly.

Standly also says the best way to stay safe on the Internet from malwareand virusesis to have your firewall active and use and updated anti-malware, anti-virus program.