Well, the Conficker worm is still alive and well and out there on the move. Though some thought it was just an April Fool’s joke, the fact that it is still here, still coming up with new mutations, kind of dispels that theory.

Just last week, Symantec detected the latest variant to the Conficker worm, (.E), which is the update to the .C variant. This one tries to update the previous variant with new capabilities, rogue antivirus software, and new spamming malware.

We’re not out of the woods yet.

In my opinion, just because this thing didn’t shoot off firecrackers and make a million computers explode on April 1st doesn’t mean it is something to simply ignore. Nor do I think it is all necessarily overblown media hype. Yes, if you have your definitions up to date obviously that is in your favor. But those that don’t, to say “Ahhh…big deal…there have always been viruses out there”…yeah, but not necessarily one of this type and magnitude and complexity. The simple fact that the total yahoo that created this is playing such a stinking game with the whole thing is what makes it all the more real. And the fact that (s)he knew how to play such a game so darn well.

A new virus, Downadup, is spreading across the virtual community like wildfire and has already affected millions of PCs. To spread the virus, hackers are directing traffic to bogus Barack Obama websites.

The worm originated back in October and was then known as Conficker. According to analysts, the worm has reemerged and has wreaked havoc on more than 3.5 million computers in under 24 hours. It has been renamed Downadup and consists of a network of worms that can prove difficult to remove, especially if a network of computers become infected.