Trojan Freezes Computer, Demands Ransom

Gamer X

Banned
Feb 11, 2005
769
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Inquirer Article

A SPANKING new type of malware will freeze your computer until you pay a small ransom through the Western Union Holdings money transfer service.

According to the media friendly Sophos, the malware known as Troj/Ransom-A, is one of only a few viruses so far that have asked for a ransom in exchange for releasing control of a computer.

SpokesSophos Graham Cluley said the new Trojan falls into a class of viruses described as "ransomware."

Such cunning plans had been seen in Russia, but one appeared in English recently. Once the software is run, the Trojan freezes the computer and threatens to delete files every 30 minutes until $10.99 is sent to the writer via Western Union.

The virus writer promises that if his method to unlock the computer does not work he will research the problem. He includes an e-mail address so that you can get in touch.

More here. µ
 

CKent

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
9,020
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Lol, it's amazing the things we don't have to deal with because we use at least 3 brain cells when computing. Of course, I fully expect to see this on my cousins' Dell that I end up having to reinstall windows on every 6 months or so due to massive spyware/virus infections... /sigh
 

n0cmonkey

Elite Member
Jun 10, 2001
42,936
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Originally posted by: CalvinHobbes
Couldn't they just trace the money and catch the person?

And who in Russia/China/N. Korea is going to care? :p

I've decided that my Windows machine will not touch the internet for anything other than work and games. No browsing, no e-mail, no chatting.
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
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Originally posted by: Gamer X
Inquirer Article

A SPANKING new type of malware will freeze your computer until you pay a small ransom through the Western Union Holdings money transfer service.

According to the media friendly Sophos, the malware known as Troj/Ransom-A, is one of only a few viruses so far that have asked for a ransom in exchange for releasing control of a computer.

SpokesSophos Graham Cluley said the new Trojan falls into a class of viruses described as "ransomware."

Such cunning plans had been seen in Russia, but one appeared in English recently. Once the software is run, the Trojan freezes the computer and threatens to delete files every 30 minutes until $10.99 is sent to the writer via Western Union.

The virus writer promises that if his method to unlock the computer does not work he will research the problem. He includes an e-mail address so that you can get in touch.

More here. µ

spanking new? these people need to get a clue. i heard about these types of things about a year ago.
 

Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
21,938
5
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Originally posted by: CalvinHobbes
Couldn't they just trace the money and catch the person?

Western Union isn't exactly the most secured form of payment... especially in countries like Russia or Nigeria.
 

Cooler

Diamond Member
Mar 31, 2005
3,835
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Originally posted by: Looney
Originally posted by: CalvinHobbes
Couldn't they just trace the money and catch the person?

Western Union isn't exactly the most secured form of payment... especially in countries like Russia or Nigeria.

I see to many Nigeria scams on ebay.