Nasty Computer Virus: CryptoLocker

[Tennesseer]

From today's Snopes update.  

Origins:   The so-called "CryptoLocker virus" is an example of ransomware, a class of malware that, once it has infected a particular computer system, restricts access to that system until the user pays a ransom. CryptoLocker is a particular form of ransomware known as cryptoviral extortion, a scheme in which key files on the system's hard drive are encrypted and thus rendered inaccessible to the user unless and until that user pays a ransom to obtain a key for decrypting the files. 

The CryptoLocker worm is generally spread via drive-by downloads or as an attachment to phony e-mails disguised as legitimate messages from various business, such as fake FedEx and UPS tracking notifications. When a user opens such a message, CryptoLocker installs itself on the user's system, scans the hard drive, and encrypts certain file types, such as images, documents and spreadsheets. CryptoLocker then launches a window displaying a demand for ransom (to be paid in less-traceable forms such as Bitcoins and Green Dot Moneypaks) and a countdown timer showing the date and time before which the user must submit payment in order to obtain the decryption key before it is destroyed: 

More:

CryptoLocker

[mmhmm]

Ouch!  That sounds like a nasty one!  I don't know anyone who's been affected and I sure hope I don't come to know anyone who's affected - including me! 

[Tennesseer]

Backup your important stuff daily.

[mmhmm]

I always do that anyway, Tenn.  Sounds like, though, if you get this little jewel your computer becomes nothing more than a rather large paperweight.

[Tennesseer]

Oct 26, 2013 21:22:16 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

I always do that anyway, Tenn.  Sounds like, though, if you get this little jewel your computer becomes nothing more than a rather large paperweight.

Put than ransom money toward a new computer.  

Watch the crooks put this virus in an 'Obamacare Is A Failure' mass-forwarded email.  Countless readers will open up the email initially with glee then dread it once they find out they have been had.

[mmhmm]

LOL!  Sadly, I could see that happening, if they thought of it, Tenn.  Usually, these little nasties are found on music downloading sites, porn sites, and sites that appeal to young folks - people who will download without really thinking much about it.  The sad thing is, they proliferate like rabbits and there's not much that can be done to stay ahead of them.  Every time a protection is found against a particularly destructive one, another crops up right behind it.  No wonder McAfee is nuts! 

[Jaguar]

Wow

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

I'm very restrictive in what emails I open. I never open anything from an unknown address. If its not from family or friends or a very trusted site I communicate with or visit regularly, it gets deleted or reported as spam right away without opening.

My Anti-Virus (Trend Micro Titanium) is pretty good at blocking/stopping stuff like this - I just take the extra step to be all the more cautious.

One of my SIL's is notorious for forwarding all kinds of junk & crap to everyone she knows - I never even open her emails anymore for fear of what viruses she might be helping spread around. I think since my brother passed away, she's gone through three computers in as many years because of all the viruses she's picked up from some of the websites she visits or emails she gets and opens/forwards. She's not the brightest light bulb in the box.

[Deleted]

My husband's computer was actually infected with this when we first moved to Italy.  It was ugly.  Thankfully a local computer genius was able to fix it.  I do no know what he did...but he got it off his computer. 

[Spellbound454]

I think you had the ukash ransome virus angel. Its sweeping Europe and Canada. I had it but it kept coming back and I ended up reloading windows
(think I got it from a drive by at you tube.)

This is worse because once it is encrypted there isn't much you can do without the key.  You may be able to do a system restore and search for an odd looking exe file.
Sophos and malwarebytes will block it and I have both....but this is going to hit a load of people and make for a miserable Christmas.


I remember the havoc caused to our hospitals and schools with the conficker worm. It shut whole systems down.

Why these parasitic bas*** have to do this I don't really know.

[Jaguar]

There is an Update about this story from MSN Canada

news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/uk-warns-of-computer-ransom-scam-targeting-millions

[EVT1]

Now that's what I call a free market enterprise- some lowly hacker that pulled themselves up off of their bootstraps.  What is the problem?  You want to regulate this? The evil government?