Thousands face Internet blackout on Monday

On 9 July, thousands of Internet users worldwide could lose access after the FBI shuts down temporary DNS servers that replaced fraudulent servers operated by hackers, RT reports.

Major companies and US government agencies are among those that could be blocked out, according to Internet security firm IID.

The blackout will affect systems infected with the DNSChanger Trojan, a malware program that altered user searches and redirected them to pages offering fraudulent and, in some cases, dangerous products.

Despite repeated alerts, the number of computers that probably are infected is more than 277 000 worldwide, down from about 360 000 in April, Fox News reveals. Of those still infected, the FBI believes that about 64 000 are in the US.

Users whose computers are still infected on Monday will lose their ability to go online, and they will have to call their service providers for help deleting the malware and reconnecting to the Internet.

The problem began when international hackers ran an online advertising scam to take control of more than 570 000 infected computers around the world. 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.

In November, the FBI says it bust a group of cyber criminals in Estonia who had successfully downloaded malware onto an estimated four million computers in more than 100 countries, Canoe Technology states.

In its indictment, the FBI estimated the gang made at least $14 million in “ill-gotten gains” through what it called click hijacking and advertisement replacement fraud.

Instead of shutting down the rogue servers, the FBI replaced the servers with “clean” ones and redirected users, who were generally none the wiser.