You May Have the DNSChanger Virus and Not Even Know It

The DNSChanger Virus is tough to find and hard to stop before it is too late. But what is it, and how do you know you have it?

Security

Jul 30, 2017

by PSafe Newsroom

The DNSChanger Virus is one of the most widespread computer viruses in the history of the Internet. You may have read about it five or ten years ago when it was at its peak. But just what was the DNSChanger Virus, and what is the status of it now? How do you know if you have it? Malware doesn’t always make its presence on your phone obvious. The best way to protect your phone from viruses — and remove any hidden viruses — is to run a Full Virus Scan on your phone. Click here to scan your phone and SD card for malicious threats:

The DNSChanger Virus is considered a Trojan virus (named after the Trojan horse). It works in a similar way: it appears to be something friendly and normal, but once it breaches your Internet, it mutates into a malware that hijacks your computer. The toughest part about the DNSChanger Virus is that you cannot detect it until you get it, and once you get it, it is difficult to find.

The DNSChanger Virus is the product of Rove Digital, an Estonian web company, that used their malware to invade a person’s computer server and redirect all Internet traffic to their own servers, where they inject the victim’s computer with their own advertising. At its peak, the DNSChanger Virus became so widespread that it affected tens of millions of Americans. Even though the FBI quarantined the DNSChanger virus six years ago, cutting its victims in half, it is still on the Internet in alarmingly high numbers.

The DNSChanger Virus has since spawned mutations that go by different names, but they all have the same origin. If the DNSChanger Virus hijacks your phone, your Internet browsing is at the mercy of hackers and malware, slowing down your Android with ads and potentially more viruses.

The best way to avoid getting the DNSChanger Virus is to avoid sketchy unsafe websites that are heavy with ads and malware. And while it is difficult to identify the DNSChanger Virus once it invades your computer, the best way to kill it and prevent malware from infecting your phone is to perform a Full Virus Scan regularly on your device. The DNSChanger virus may seem like ancient history, but it is still active and can affect your Internet browsing. It is better to be safe than sorry, and always lean on the side of caution.