House of Commons network hit by Conficker computer worm

Parliamentary computers have been infected by the Conficker worm, like an estimated 10m PCs worldwide - and experts fear next week will see problems worsen
Charles Arthur, guardian.co.uk, March 27, 2009

The House of Commons internal computer network has been infected by the "Conficker" worm that has also infected millions of Windows PCs around the world, and has had to ban its users from attaching outside storage - such as USB "memory sticks" - in case it gets reinfected.

The revelation is an embarrassment for the organisation running the network, which contains nearly 1,000 computers, because Microsoft issued a fix for the weakness that leaves PCs vulnerable in October - meaning that they have been lax in applying necessary security fixes. MessageLabs, owned by Symantec, is understood to be responsible for the antivirus and antispam filtering of communications with the network.

A memo sent out in the House of Commons network on Tuesday night warned that "the Parliamentary network has been affected by a virus known as conficker. This virus affects users by slowing down the Network and by locking out some accounts." It instructs users to leave computers turned on - so that they can have the malware removed - and that unauthorised computers be removed from the network.

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Also see: How To Remove Conficker / Downadup Worm - Virus