According to the Associated Press reports, University of Utah officials Thursday detected that the computers installed on its campus had been hit by the malicious Conficker worm! By Friday, the worm had struck more than 700 computers at the University’s three hospitals, medical school, as well as the pharmacy, nursing, and health colleges.

Going by a statement given to the AP by the University spokesman, Chris Nelson, Internet access at the campus was brought to a halt for nearly six hours on Friday, due to attempts being undertaken to segregate the malware.

Saying that the virus largely attacked personal computers, probably with the aim to tap login and password data, banking information and credit card numbers, Nelson assured that the records of the patients had not been affected by the Conficker outbreak. He added that all such information is “secured in a much deeper way because of the implications.”

The University has handed out the necessary instructions for eliminating the virus from personal computers and equipment – including thumb drives, smartphones, and digital cameras - to its staff and students.

As per a statement by the University’s office of Information Technology representative, Mindy Tueller, the faculty and the students need to take the requisite steps in order to ensure that their machines are protected against the virus.