An internet security group in the US has revealed Telstra has the most users infected with the infamous Conficker virus.
The group, known as Shadowserver, has released information regarding ISPs worldwide and how vulnerable they are to viruses. The figures show Telstra has the most users infected with the Conficker worm at approximately 3,700 IP addresses, followed by Optus and TPG with 2,200 and 1,100 respectively.
The worm has spread quickly across the world, infecting government agencies and the computers of regular internet users. Its purpose is not yet known, but software giant Microsoft is offering a $278,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the bug’s writers.
“As recently as late October 2009, the number of systems infected with the A+B+C variants topped seven million,” Shadowserver director, Andre’ M. DiMino, wrote on the group’s website.
“We thought it would be of interest to illustrate the depth and extent of how Conficker truly affects a worldwide scope of providers.”
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
