CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Thousands of people lost access to the Internet Monday thanks to DNS Changer, a virus Channel 9 has been telling you about for weeks.
The virus forces computers to get online through so-called rogue servers, displaying fake versions of websites where the hackers made money on advertising clicks.
At midnight, the FBI shut down a temporary server that allowed those infected by the virus to still access the Internet.
The FBI set up a special website where people could go to find out if their computer was infected with the DNS changer virus. The agency encouraged people to go to the website before it shut down the temporary server that allowed those infected to still access the Internet.
But starting July 9, the server was shut down and thousands lost their ability to connect to the Internet.
Chris Finley owns The Computer Fixers in Plaza Midwood and said he started getting calls as soon as he opened Monday morning.
"(Callers said), ‘My computers down, it won't come on, I can't get on the Internet, I can't access my files,’" he said.
Finley said he's been able to talk to people over the phone and help them get rid of the virus.
Eyewitness News checked with some major Internet providers who say they have not seen a rush of complaints.
Both AT&T and Comcast said they reached out to customers about how to tackle the virus months in advance and only a small percentage of their customers have been impacted.
While it appears many people hit by DNS Changer will be able to recover, Finley said no one is in the clear. He said hackers keep lurking, looking for ways to create other viruses capable of causing more damage.
"Definitely it's going to get worse," he said.
For more steps to take to protect your computer, click here.
WSOC
