CryptoLocker creators try to extort even more money from victims with new service

November 04, 2013

The creators of CryptoLocker, a piece of malware that encrypts user data and holds it for ransom, are giving users who removed the malicious program from their computers a second chance to recover their files, but at a much higher cost. CryptoLocker is a malicious program that falls into a category of malware called ransomware. Once installed on a computer, ransomware applications typically prevent victims from accessing their files or even their operating system until they pay money to the malware authors. Security researchers generally advise users against giving into this kind of extortion and in many cases there is a way to regain access to everything without paying up. However, CryptoLocker uses solid public-private key cryptography to encrypt files that match a long list of extensions, including documents, spreadsheets, images and even AutoCAD design files. According to researchers from antivirus firm Sophos, the malware’s creators got the encryption process right and there’s no method to get the decryption keys, which are unique for every computer and are stored on attackers’ servers, without paying up. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Link: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2060640/cryptolocker-creators-try-to-extort-even-more-money-from-victims-with-new-service.html#tk.rss_all