Ransomware

IT News has a great article at http://www.itnews.com/malware/73087/how-rescue-your-pc-ransomware?source=ITNEWSNLE_nlt_itndaily_2014-01-13  about how to protect your PC from ransomware.  Ransomware encrypts the computer files and demands that the owner pay to get the files unencrypted.  Cryptolocker is the culprit of the "real" ransomware.  The software displays a request for ransom; however, the developers take your money and run. Eric Geier wrote the article.  It is work reading.  He recommends that we read an article that he previously wrote on removing malware - at http://www.pcworld.com/article/243818/how_to_remove_malware_from_your_windows_pc.html?page=0

The article classifies ransomware into three main types: scareware, lock-screen viruses, and the "real thing."
Scareware is the simplest software.  A pop-up message provides a fake message that you have a virus and demands that you pay to have the virus removed.  Lock-screen viruses have a pop-up window that prevents you from using your computer.  According to Geier, it displays a Department of Justice or FBI logo stating that  you have broken the law.  Cryptolocker malware is nasty.  Make sure that you have a virus protector, such as Malwarebytes. working. 

The bottom line is to keep your antivirus and anti-malware software up-to-date.  Configure the software to run a system scan periodically.  If you do get ransomware, contact a computer guru to guide you in the removal process.

Yahoo Malware Attack & Skype Twitter Hack

The new year just started and the cyber criminals are diligently working.  This week the Yahoo! advertisement server was hit with malware.  Visitors at Yahoo.com were vulnerable. Users in Great Britain, Romania, and France were affected the most.  Java was exploited to carry out the attack.You can read more at http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/05/tech/yahoo-malware-attack/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 

Innocent visits to reputable sites, such as Yahoo! can have bad outcomes.  The most important way to thwart the problems is to maintain up-to-date antivirus and anti-malware software running on your computers. There are versions of antivirus and anti-malware software available for free.  Two examples are AVG and Malwarebytes.

This is the second cyber crime (I am certain that there were more) in the last few days.  On New Years Day, cyber criminals hacked the Skype Twitter account to bash Microsoft.  The Syrian Electronic Army took credit for the hack.  You can read more at http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/1/5264540/skype-twitter-facebook-blog-accounts-hacked