Confiker Worm April 1st

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29975229/
I have heard that there is a virus that could mess up ur pc.
What are some ways of preventing this from happeneing?

Don't get the virus.

Just common sense stuff really, make sure whatever security measures you've got in place are up to date. Microsoft has also updated their malicious software removal tool.

I think most of this is overhyped by the attention it's getting, but then again I just read Bill Gates is offering a $250,000 bounty.
And my desktop has been acting weird since yesterday. I couldn't get it to shut off and now I can't access the internet, but MSN Messenger works fine. While the internet on my laptop works perfectly fine.

If you keep Windows updated, this has been patched since last October.