Over the past several weeks, a handful of frantic Microsoft Windows users have written in to ask what they might do to recover from PC infections from “CryptoLocker,” the generic name for an increasingly prevalent and nasty strain of malicious software that encrypts your files until you pay a ransom. Unfortunately, the answer for these folks is usually either to pay up or suck it up. This post offers a few pointers to help readers avoid becoming the next victim.
http://krebsonsecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/cryptolocker-285x222.pngA CryptoLocker prompt and countdown clock.
According to reports from security firms, CryptoLocker is most often spread through booby-trapped email attachments, but the malware also can be deployed by hacked and malicious Web sites by exploiting outdated browser plugins.
The trouble with CryptoLocker is not so much in removing the malware — that process appears to be surprisingly trivial in most cases. The real bummer is that all of your important files — pictures, documents, movies, MP3s — will remain scrambled with virtually unbreakable encryption unless and until you pay the ransom demand, which can range from $100 to $300 (and payable only in Bitcoins).
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Also see this other thread I posted 2 weeks ago: https://community.webroot.com/t5/Security-Industry-News/You-re-infected-if-you-want-to-see-your-data-again-pay-us-300-in/td-p/62441#.UnQMeOJyUsA
Also having Webroot SecureAnywhere will protect you from this infection!
Daniel 😉
