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I just saw this on Yahoo...
Trojan Freezes Computer, Demands Ransom Jeremy Kirk, IDG News Service
Thu Apr 27, 10:00 AM ET
 


A new kind of malware circulating on the Internet freezes a computer and then asks for a ransom paid through the Western Union Holdings money transfer service.


A sample of the Trojan horse virus was sent to Sophos, a security vendor, said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant. The malware, which Sophos named 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, Cluley said.


The new Trojan falls into a class of viruses described as "ransomware." The schemes had been seen in Russia, but the first one appeared in English just last month.


"It is a new kind of malware with a particularly nasty payload," Cluley said.


It's unclear how the Trojan is being spread, although Sophos is investigating, Cluley said. Viruses can be spread in several ways, including through spam or a so-called drive-by download that exploits a browser vulnerability when a user visits a malicious Web site.

PC Frozen, Files at Risk

Once run, the Trojan freezes the computer, displaying a message saying files are being deleted every 30 minutes. It then gives instructions on how to send $10.99 via Western Union to free the computer.


Hitting the control, alt, and delete keys will not affect the bug, the virus writer warns. Sophos provides further details at its Web site.


The virus writer even offers tech support, Cluley said. If the method of unlocking the computer doesn't work after the money is sent, the virus writer promises to research the problem and includes an e-mail address.


Last month, a Trojan emerged that encrypts a user's documents and then leaves a file demanding $300 in exchange for the password to access the information. Victims were instructed to send money to one of 99 accounts run by e-gold, a company that runs a money transfer site.


The password, however, was contained on the infected computer. Sophos cracked it and publicly released it.


Scarey thought....Time to Reformat my computer.....

These A-holes deserve public castration.  I can't stand these people...

Ms Frimp managed to get one last month that locked your web browser. I disconnected the internet from the laptop, and did a system restore. I have software for Spybot S+D and I installed it, ran it, and it listed the malware, and removed it. Guess I got lucky there.

I'd buy a new computer before I'd pay the hijacker 10 bucks.

I was thinking about that too. Do you really think he would tell you how to completely get rid of it?

No no no no.... that's WAY too light.  Outright torture to a slow and painful death would be my preference.  Seize all their assets, force them to give up the names of other hackers etc, etc, etc, then a slow and painful death.

All those Nigerian scams for example - I think we should send a couple special ops teams to Nigeria (or wherever) and get double our money back.  Bring back a few body parts from those involved as reminders to future scammers.

I like the Nigerian scams.  It's like Darwin's theory.  If you're so much of a moron that you're going to hand a check over to some so-called long-lost Nigerian Prince, you deserve for natural selection to weed you out.

I agree but I hate to see anyone get scammed out of their life savings.