The short version is that you should visit this website and download the Avira DNS Repair-Tool and run it. After you run the tool, if you get a message that says: “The DNS settings of your system have not been manipulated by the DNSChanger,” then you don’t have anything to worry about.

If you get a different message, however, you, along with countless others, may lose your Internet connection on March 8 due to DNSChanager viruses, which the FBI began warning people about in November of last year.

DNSChanger viruses have infected millions of computers around the world. The virus prevents computers from navigating the Internet properly and may prevent antivirus software and operating systems from updating, which could leave systems vulnerable to further attacks.

The hackers who created these viruses were arrested in November 2011 in Estonia, and the FBI replaced the hackers’ servers with temporary servers hoping that infected machines would be able to continue operating. The temporary servers will be turned off on March 8, 2012, and this will leave infected computers unable to access the Internet.

If your computer is infected, you can reinstall your operating system, research online solutions to the DNSChanger virus, or consult a professional.

This is probably a scenario most of us have faced at some point (I know I have), and most likely will face again in the future. Luck may be on your side, but can you rely on luck? I suggest you be prepared for the unlucky times we all face by making a backup of all your data so even if this tragedy befalls you, you will still feel quite lucky.

Yes, it does take some forethought and preparation for this fateful day… however it will be well worth it. We have several suggestions for the procedures you should take to prepare yourself. First, obtain an external drive that has more than enough storage capacity to keep a second copy of all your precious data. Then, you will need to acquire and setup software to make backups of your data automatically. There are many free solutions for backup, and some great paid solutions also.

You can check out downloadcrew.com for some ratings and reviews. Crashplan is a free solution that simply and automatically backs up your user account, or whatever you tell it to. It also has functionality so that you can back up your drive to a friend’s computer on the network. A great paid solution is Acronis True Image, especially if you are making a complete disk image backup. There are also remote backup solutions such as Carbonite. To be extra safe keep a backup of your most important data in a fireproof safe. Is there such a thing as being too safe? Please call us if you need any help in choosing your backup solutions.

So when the day comes that your data disappears you can have a confident… dare I say, even cocky smile knowing that you, instead of depending on luck, have an exact copy in your fireproof safe… but slowly the dread sinks in again as a tiny question enters your mind… uh oh, what is the combination to that safe?

However, if all else has failed there may still be a glimmer of hope. If you are unprepared and down on your luck… please contact us. We have hardware based recovery solutions and are the only certified data recovery specialists in the area and we can recover most lost or corrupted data. Don’t rely on luck, backup!