The message does appear in Messenger 2009 because Microsoft decided to block links, or more precisely active links, links that are clickable, in the instant messenger.

Why? Because of a malicious computer worm spreading this way. The worm replicates when a user clicks on a link posted in Messenger that links to a specially prepared website.

Windows Live Messenger 2009 users are still able to copy and paste links to their web browser to open the pages these links point to. Users who suspect that their system is already compromised should download a security software such as Microsoft’s Malicious Software Removal Tool to scan their PCs and remove possible infections.

This is a temporary solution for all we know, and it is likely that Microsoft will come up with a solution to block the worm from spreading without disabling clickable links in Messenger.

Windows Live Messenger 2011 is not affected by the worm thanks to its Link Safety feature. Messenger users who can should consider upgrading to Messenger 2011 for improved security features. (via)

Enter Re-Enable, a portable software program for the Windows operating system that can enable several disabled core functions of the Windows operating system. Re-enable can currently enable the following Windows functions if they have been disabled by a computer virus (or other program or effect).

• Windows Registry
• Command Line Tool
• Windows Task Manager
• System Restore Config
• Folder Options
• Run command

The program will display all support functions in its interface. All are checked by default and a click on the Enable button will enable these again. Nothing will happen if they are already enabled. Users who only want to enable a specific function can uncheck the other options in the interface easily.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users need admin rights to use the software program. The software program is also compatible with Windows XP. It can be downloaded from Softpedia.

One of the traits of the Conficker worm is the blocking of url strings. This includes urls of antivirus companies, Microsoft and support sites that could aid users in removing the Conficker worm from a computer system. Users with the worm cannot open the websites in their web browser anymore and this is the exact concept of the Conficker Eye Chart. It displays six images on the website. Three images from urls that are not blocked by Conficker and three that are blocked.

If the web browser is displaying all six urls it is very likely that Conficker has not infected the computer system. If only the safe three images are displayed an infection with the C variant of Conficker is likely while the display of four images hints at A and B variants of Conficker.

The major benefit of this Conficker detection test is its simplicity. It takes only a web browser and a few seconds to test if the computer system has been infected. It is still a good idea to confirm the findings by using a software detection program which you can find here.

The ban, which was issued directly by the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, applies to both the secret SIPR and unclassified NIPR nets and includes all removable media including removable hard drives, USB sticks, recordable disks and even floppy disks.

The computer worm that led to the ban has been identified as a virus called Agent.btz which is a variation of the SillyFDC worm which spreads by copying itself on removable media that gets connected to the computer system.

The article reveals several interesting – some would say scary – insights. The computer worm known as Agent.btz is known by most antivirus databases for months at least which leads to the conclusion that the worm is either a variant that cannot be detected yet or that the US Military is running ineffective antivirus software on parts of their computer networks and individual systems.

The second interesting tidbit is that it seems that personally owned, that is non-authorized devices have not been banned in the past.

Eventually, some government-approved drives will be allowed back under certain “mission-critical,” but unclassified, circumstances. “Personally owned or non-authorized devices” are “prohibited” from here on out.

One could argue that non-authorized devices are automatically banned but the system does not seem to have been that effective if a computer worm relying on removable media has spread across the networks.

Now imagine if this would not be just a random well known virus but a planned attack by sophisticated computer hackers knowing what they were doing.. Scary? Yes.