Trojan holds computers to ransom

[lovuian]

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/redir.php?jid=560395be27e3d9fd&cat=c08dd24cec417021

Trojan holds computers to ransom
From correspondents in Paris
June 02, 2005
SOFTWARE protection companies are warning that a vicious new form of cyber-attack known as "ransomware" is threatening computers by encrypting documents and demanding money for them to be decrypted.

Symantec, a manufacturer of anti-virus programs, said today on its website (http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/trojan.pgpcoder.html) that the attacking program is a 'Trojan horse' that enters the computer via holes in the victim's web browser, scans a hard drive and encrypts any text-based documents that it finds.

Unlike a virus, a Trojan horse does not replicate from machine to machine.

If it installs successfully, the new threat wipes out text files then displays a ransom note demanding $US200 ($265) to supply decryption software that will restore the data back to its original, readable form.

So far, only one case of "ransomware" has come to light, but this could be the start of a new and dangerous generation of malicious software, the British weekly New Scientist says in its next issue dated on Saturday.


The algorithm used to scramble the data was not very sophisticated in this case, and the encrypted documents were easily decoded by a computer consultant.

"The danger now is that the virus writers might turn to using strong military-grade encryption systems," leaving the victim with little option but to pay up to decrypt his files, New Scientist warns.


more...
Ok this could REALLY SCREW UP MAJOR Governments and CORPORATIONS!!!

[Tux]

1. Only one thing can save us!

Linux!

[lovuian]

3. Its definitely Not Microsoft and then you have to wonder

was this spying all part of the plan but backfired!!!

[VegasWolf]

4. As soon as somebody actually uses Linux it'll be hacked too. n/t

[Tux]

6. So far so good

Many people use Linux and not one virus can cause chaos on Linux like it's counterparts on Windows. Last year, when I did tech support at Dell, 100,000 Windows viruses were released. Four for Linux.

[megatherium]

10. Linux isn't vulnerable to viruses but it has been vulnerable to hacks.

People directly attacking the system. Four years ago, I was at a research lab. They had several machines that got hacked one weekend (Red Hat Linux). These systems had to be wiped clean and have their OS reloaded. I gather Linux nowadays is more robust; an off the shelf OS install is likely to be unscathed months later. But it behooves anyone running any OS to make sure it's kept up to date.

[BlueJazz]

2. Who are you going to pay it to?

I don't think such a scenario will happen because after 3 or 4 "Hackers" are found Dead in the river, the rest of the extortionists might get the idea that maybe "This wasn't such a good plan after all"

[megatherium]

11. You are told to wire the money via Western Union.

Can't be traced, can't be refunded. The same technique used by Nigerian spammers when they gull their victims. Of course, some of the Nigerians got burned by clever would-be marks who played games with them. A dangerous past time.

[TacticalPeek]

5. Backup.

Backup.

Backup.


:)

[billyoc]

7. They tried to do it to me!

They said they encrypted all my perl scripts, and when I went back and checked them all, I couldn't tell. ;)

[neuvocat]

8. And if they did, that's what backups are for.

[billyoc]

9. sorry, just kidding, a reference to a quote:

Perl - The only language that looks the same before and after RSA encryption. --Keith Bostic

[Voltaire99]

12. "Leaving the victim with little option but to pay up..."

Or get a Mac. :-)

Really, I would include Symantec and its ilk--PC antivirus manufacturers--as a much more reliable threat to one's pocketbook than any "ransomware." One thing is for certain: if you own a PC, you're going to spend on the order of $500 every decade buying antivirus software.

The latest rub is that Microsoft soon shall start charging you for its entrant in the field.

As Elvis Costello once sang, "He stand to be insulted / And he pays for the privilege."

[cornermouse]

13. Lesson.

Keep all your valuable files on an offline computer.