For those worried about the Conficker Virus...

[Sevenforce]

http://www.confickerworkinggroup.org/infection_test/cfeyechart.html

Quick, simple check. Explanation is on the page. If images load, you're fine. If images DON'T load...then you're probably not fine

[C4]

and if u get images of Wolverine?

[BWPS]

My computer hasn't worked since it completely shut down 9 years ago, so this is immaterial to me.

[Glitch Girl]

and if u get images of Wolverine?

Then you're infected with the Legacy virus.

[BlueBard]

Y'know, I can appreciate that you're being helpful and all that...

But consider this...

You are asking people to click on a link to check to see if they have a virus or not.

If I were not the paranoid, computer savvy guy that I am, I would probably assume that you know what you're talking about and just click the link.

This is exactly the kind of behavior that malware creators are counting on to spread virii in the first place.

I'm not saying you are intentionally spreading viruses or that you don't know what you're talking about.  I'm saying you are reinforcing a behavior pattern that allows some viruses to spread.

Rather than simply posting a link, explain the problem and provide the reader with enough information to decide for themselves that the link is safe to click.  In other words, assume that the link could be dangerous... what would you want to know before you followed it?

For example, I Googled on "Conficker Virus".  One of the first links that pops up is this:

Virus alert about the Win32/Conficker.B worm
Describes ways to detect and clean a system that has the Win32/Conficker.B worm.
support.microsoft.com/kb/962007

Hmm... Microsoft might be a reliable source of information.  I find out that one of the symptoms that I might actually have a virus is that I can't get to security-related websites.  Another symptom might be that Automatic Updates have been disabled.  That's good to know.  I might want to check those things before I click on the original link.

Next I check to see who 'confickerworkinggroup.org' is registered to.  (Whois search at http://www.geektools.com/whois.php).  Hmm.  'The Shadowserver Foundation'.  That doesn't sound good.  As it turns out based on some deeper digging, this is probably okay... but I decide I want to get my hands on a Conficker removal tool -before- I click on it.  Microsoft had one, so that's a good place to get it.

Now as it happens, I am at work right now.  I do not want to be responsible for infecting my work PC and spreading a virus at work, so I don't take a chance on clicking the link at all.  If I want to risk infecting my home PC, that's my own business.  I can take some reasonable precautions and indulge my curiosity later on.

And that, my friends, is how the paranoid mind works.  You'll be safer on the Internet if you think twice before you click.

P.S. The 'Shadowserver Foundation' appears to be one of the 'good guy' organizations with an accurate, if unfortunately suspicious-sounding, name.

[Sevenforce]

Wow, see, all I thought of doing was putting "To prove this isn't a post by an automated virus program or something, *insert something I normally say here that isn't annoying*", but you kinda went the whole hog. All you'd need for completions sake is a backup PC especially bought to browse websites for viruses before you go to them Paranoia can be a good thing, even if it does involve a lot of work.

I suppose you're right, and I really shouldn't trust that everyone is as computer-savvy as you, and will check a link before they click it. Perhaps I should have given a more detailed explanation after the link? My apologies.

and if u get images of Wolverine?

Then you're infected with the Legacy virus.

Thanks, GG, you just made my day

[Glitch Girl]

My pleasure.