Privacy, Security & Virus Information

Heard of Russian roulette? - Now we have Russian Ransom

We all know that there are places in the real world where we shouldn't go, but for many the excitement and the temptation is too much. They go there, and sometimes they find themselves in an embarrassing situation, ending up paying out some money to walk away with their reputation still intact.

Well the bad news is that the same potentially embarrassing situation is beginning to make its appearance online, and those caught in the hacker's trap will find themselves being held to virtual ransom. Behind the scheme are some particularly talented but unscrupulous hackers from Russia and Eastern Europe who lie in wait for unsuspecting surfers who are drawn to some of the seedier sites online. Once hooked, the surfer if they are lucky to be using their own personal computer at the time will be locked out of their files until they pay out a reasonably sized online ransom. What's lucky about that you might ask?

Well the answer is that behind the Russian ransom scheme is a nasty piece of malware known as Worm_Rixobot.A, which is being operated by a network of hackers in the last few weeks which if it invades a single computer will stop there, but is very capable of locking out all other family member's files on the same computer, even if they are password protected as well as hitting other computers on the same network. The only light relief for someone that has been caught with their browsers down is that the virus is also capable of spreading through faulty USB drives and some instant message systems. Up to get back control of their PCs, researchers have discovered.

Anyone who has been affected by this virus will soon be very aware of it because as soon as their files start to luck up on them, they will also see a fairly large message appear on their screen, advising them that for the mere equivalent of $12, they will be sent an unlock key to free their files and reduce their embarrassment. At this stage it is still unclear whether the $12.00 applies to every computer compromised or just the naughty boy (or girl) who was wandering where they shouldn't have been. The hackers are obviously aware that they are on to something good as who will take the trouble to complain about a $12.00 scam.

However the question remains not why go there, but why go unprotected. For just a few dollars more you can buy yourself a first class anti-virus program that will protect you, your friends, your family and your work colleagues, from any inconvenience, loss of face or financial loss that these cyber-hackers exist to cause.

 

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