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The malware affects the Domain Name Service -- one of the key pieces of Internet infrastructure.

The DNS basically translates a web address into language computers can understand.

Experts say it all started when hackers ran an online advertising scam with the goal of gaining control of hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide.

Last year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation moved in to take down the hackers, but now they're about to pull the plug on backup servers that have continued to allow infected computers to get online for the past eight months.

"When the FBI went to clean up all these computers there came a time when they said we can't support this crutch anymore. There has to be a time when we turn it off. So they are hoping that after all this time if you have been infected you know now that you need a fix," said CNET Senior Editor Bridget Carey.

The thought of losing Internet access struck fear into the hearts of many New Yorkers.

"I would die. I wouldn't be able to function," said one New Yorker.

"You know I would be worried because I couldn't access my bank account information. I bank online," said another New Yorker.

At J&R Music and Computer World in Downtown Manhattan, sales representatives say they have had just a few people come in to ask about the malware, but most people who spoke with NY1 had not heard of it at all.

"And if anyone has any concerns to discuss the situation with them and they will tell them how simple and explain how to remedy the problem," said J&R Spokesperson Abe Brown.

"I wasn't concerned because I didn't know. But now I want to know what is going to happen," said one computer user.

"I wish I had heard about it before so I could fix it," said another computer user.

To see if your computer is infected and to find links to fixes, visit DCWG.org.