Google Spreads Word On DNSChanger Malware
By: Mathew Schwartz, InformationWeek
"Your computer appears to be infected."
Google began displaying that message Tuesday to anyone using one of its search engine sites with a PC that appears to be infected with the DNSChanger malware.
"After successfully alerting a million users last summer to a different type of malware, we've replicated this method and have started showing warnings via a special message that will appear at the top of the Google search results page for users with affected devices," said Google security engineer Damian Menscher in a blog post. The previous effort targeted a fake antivirus software campaign.
"Our goal with this notification is to raise awareness of DNSChanger among affected users," Menscher said. Furthermore, since about half of infected PCs appear to be located in non-English-speaking countries, "we believe directly messaging affected users on a trusted site and in their preferred language will produce the best possible results."
