Dr. Eowyn posted: " There's a very nasty computer virus called
CryptoLocker that targets computers running Microsoft Windows. First
surfacing in September 2013, the virus may be disguised as a legitimate
email attachment. When you open the attachment, however, unlike " Respond
to this post by replying above this line
New post on *Fellowship of the Minds*
<http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/author/eowyn2/> CryptoLocker computer
virus is real and nasty.
Beware!<http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/2013/12/28/cryptolocker-computer-virus-is-real-and-nasty-beware/>
by
Dr. Eowyn <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/author/eowyn2/>
[image: computer
virus]<http://fellowshipofminds.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/computer-virus.jpg>
There's a very nasty computer virus called CryptoLocker that targets
computers running Microsoft Windows.
First surfacing in September 2013,* the virus may be disguised as a
legitimate email attachment.* When you open the attachment, however, unlike
other viruses that simply delete your files, thereby allowing for the
possibility of some file recovery, CryptoLocker will securely encrypt them
using a special private key.
When your computer's been infected by CryptoLocker, you'll see a message
like this:
[image:
CryptoLocker]<http://fellowshipofminds.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/cryptolocker.png>
*Recovery of your files is impossible without CryptoLocker's encryption key
that they'll give you only in exchange for a ransom payment. *
That is why CryptoLocker is called a *ransom malware*.
The ransom must be paid by a stated deadline through either
Bitcoin<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitcoin> or
a pre-paid voucher.
Although the CryptoLocker virus itself is readily removed, the files in
your computer remain encrypted until you pay the ransom. Many say that
the ransom should not be paid, but do not offer any way to recover files.
To make things worse, paying the ransom is no guarantee that your files
will be decrypted and restored to you. Other malware has employed similar
tactics in the past, but *CryptoLocker's encryption* is much more secure and*
is currently not possible to crack.*
The steps to guard against CryptoLocker are the same good practices that
should be employed to guard against any malware attack or hardware failure:
*1. Make sure you're using antivirus software and that it's kept up to
date. *Thankfully, most antivirus applications can now detect and remove
CryptoLocker, but are only of use if they catch it before the encryption
occurs.
*2. Make sure that you regularly back up all your data*. These backups
should be *in a form that's disconnected from your computer by using an
external USB drive that you don't keep permanently connected to your
computer.* CryptoLocker will seek out any connected USB drives and network
shares, and attempt to encrypt those files, too. This can also apply to
files being synced to Cloud services, although you should often be able to
retrieve previous, and therefore unencrypted, versions of these files via
the Cloud service provider. Users of Windows starting with XP Service Pack
2 may also be able to retrieve previous (and therefore unencrypted)
versions of their files, by right-clicking on an encrypted file and
selecting "Properties," then "Previous Versions."
*3.* Email is CryptoLocker's primary mode of attack, so *avoid opening any
email attachments from untrusted sources or that appear in any way
suspicious. *This should include attachments sent from banks or financial
institutions and, *particularly* in the case of CryptoLocker, *from courier
companies or from Companies House.*
*4. Make sure the email scanning feature of your antivirus software is
configured and enabled.*
PCAdvisor<http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/security/3494361/how-stop-cryptolocker-infecting-your-pc/?olo=rss>
suggests
that you check right now whether CryptoLocker has found its way onto your
PC by downloading and run Malwarebytes
Anti-Malware<http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews/software/3356988/malwarebytes-anti-malware-free-161-review/>.
This will scan for the Trojan and remove it for you if discovered.
See also:
- How to avoid the best malware
scams<http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/opinion/security/3444810/how-avoid-best-malware-scams/>
- What's the best
antivirus?<http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/test-centre/security/3263332/group-test-whats-best-antivirus/>
Sources:
PCAdvisor<http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/security/3494361/how-stop-cryptolocker-infecting-your-pc/?olo=rss>
, Wikipedia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CryptoLocker>
H/t FOTM's joandarc
*~Eowyn*
*Dr. Eowyn <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/author/eowyn2/>* | December
28, 2013 at 1:31 pm | Tags: Companies
House<http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?tag=companies-house>,
data backup <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?tag=data-backup>, Malwarebytes
Anti-Malware<http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?tag=malwarebytes-anti-malware>,
ransom malware <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?tag=ransom-malware>, USB
drive <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?tag=usb-drive> | Categories:
crime<http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?cat=34945349>,
Evil <http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?cat=35821819>, Science &
technology<http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/?cat=1749>| URL:
http://wp.me/pKuKY-oJC
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