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
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
