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View Full Version : So I single handedly brought our network down last night at work


SilverBullet
10-07-2010, 09:15 AM
I was working on a laptop that had been infected by a virus. I copied the data files from the laptop onto a flash drive and then I did a scan of the files to make sure they were clean. Nothing came up. So, I put the flash drive into my computer to copy some drivers onto it.

Little did I know, the file was well hidden and spreads via USB port. So, as soon as I plugged my flash drive into my computer it was on like donkey kong. To make matters worse, I am an administrator so because I have elevated rights it made it easier to spread the virus.

And in case anyone wants to know, it's a variant of the Conficker worm. The network team was here all night trying to clean everything up as best they could be they had to disable the network ports for a lot of machines because they weren't able to remotely clean them.
Austin@STM
10-07-2010, 09:24 AM
well if your gonna do it, do it big!
FeaRpb
10-07-2010, 10:02 AM
Conficker is a fun little guy.
Atrosity
10-07-2010, 10:12 AM
Yeah, in IT classes I remember that it is very important to scan your flash drives as well because that is one of the more common ways to spread viruses. You can include it in the settings in your anti-virus to scan your flash drive.
terrets
10-13-2010, 03:16 AM
Sorry but thats pretty funny :lol:..............It does suck though. Damn thats some damage.
Mikes2nd
10-13-2010, 08:53 AM
how are you not patched to stop conflicker? Its like 2.5 years old? You don't patch????
SilverBullet
10-13-2010, 09:08 AM
Yeah, we're not sure how that happened either. We've been working with our antivirus vendor and they're trying to figure out why their product didn't find/stop it.

Luckily it didn't do any damage. It took us a day to get everything cleaned up, but we're back to normal. We learned a few lessons, so it's actually a good thing this happened.
Hammer
10-13-2010, 06:04 PM
You are an administrator and this happened on your watch and your boss is ok with this? Now I understand Bill Gates point. I also see why US companies are so willing to find cheaper labor overseas. Listen I was an Air Traffic Controler (retired). If I did an oops someone died. I had to be perfect always. If you did this to the air traffic system I can tell you right now you would be fired and you might be up on charges if someone died. Just giving you an observation from my world.
Mikes2nd
10-14-2010, 12:39 AM
well many people don't patch. seriously I patch everything. Its easy, just hit windows update, custom...install, turn your pc off for the night, bam done.

I have seen big dumb companies afraid or too lazy to patch.
terrets
10-14-2010, 12:59 AM
You are an administrator and this happened on your watch and your boss is ok with this? Now I understand Bill Gates point. I also see why US companies are so willing to find cheaper labor overseas. Listen I was an Air Traffic Controler (retired). If I did an oops someone died. I had to be perfect always. If you did this to the air traffic system I can tell you right now you would be fired and you might be up on charges if someone died. Just giving you an observation from my world.

Didnt you work like 12 hours shifts and are actually only in the tower for 4 hours because its so stressful? Or something like that?
SilverBullet
10-14-2010, 09:04 AM
I'm not a system admin, just a computer tech with some elevated rights. :) I might have lost my job had I been an admin.. lol
Hammer
10-14-2010, 05:28 PM
Didnt you work like 12 hours shifts and are actually only in the tower for 4 hours because its so stressful? Or something like that?

No I worked in a center ARTC (air route traffic control) as opposed to ATC (air traffic control tower). Some low traffic density towers have slow periods with only 1 person on duty. I worked 10 hour shifts 24/7 holidays included. The stress is because of the required accuracy. You screw up and career over. The other part of the stress is that the job happens at its own pace of which you have no control over. I.E. You have to keep up with demand always and be perfect at it. The center I worked in had an on duty staff of 200+ people.
onyxice
10-14-2010, 07:47 PM
Nice... lol How big's the company/network?
terrets
10-15-2010, 02:10 AM
No I worked in a center ARTC (air route traffic control) as opposed to ATC (air traffic control tower). Some low traffic density towers have slow periods with only 1 person on duty. I worked 10 hour shifts 24/7 holidays included. The stress is because of the required accuracy. You screw up and career over. The other part of the stress is that the job happens at its own pace of which you have no control over. I.E. You have to keep up with demand always and be perfect at it. The center I worked in had an on duty staff of 200+ people.

Ohh...Ya I dont think I could handle the stress :D.