WARNING! Fastest-growing Internet virus ransoms computers!

[Lisaara]

My father in law left the newspaper on my desk. I just got home and saw an article about a new virus. The virus is called 'Ransomware'. What it essentially does is takes over your computer and prevents you from operating it until you pay the fee the source demands. It's recommended you DO NOT pay the fee but have a tech expert remove the virus.

The one that's popping up a lot recently is one that downloads child pornography to your computer and pretends the FBI want your credit card number for a $3000 fine to unfreeze your computer.

So I wanted to warn you, my fellow Petopians, so that you don't get caught in this horrible scam and you know what to do should it happen. Be very careful and do regular virus scans as well as malware and spyware scans.

http://hamptonroads.com/2013/11/fastgro ... -computers

[cowmuflage]

Heres a link to how to get rid of it. Really all you do is treat it like any other virus and wipe your computer.

[Lisaara]

Heres a link to how to get rid of it. Really all you do is treat it like any other virus and wipe your computer.

Good link though it also depends if you want to lose everything on your computer or not.

Still, it's better to avoid it in the first place than to have to get it fixed. Just wanted to be helpful and warn people of this virus.

[cowmuflage]

Yup true that. Always good to back up all the files you want onto a harddrive.

[Lisaara]

Yupper. I got all my important stuff on a memory stick. The rest I wont mind losing should it happen.

[Azunara]

I talked to my dad about this one, if this is the one I think it is, and he says there are two versions. One is easy to fix and all it will take is a reboot in Safe Mood and simply removing the virus. However there is a nasty version that is incredibly difficult to get rid of and will require a professional technician to gank.

But in all seriousness--the usual apply. Update your computer, anti-virus, the works. Get an ad-block, don't go to shady sites, don't follow strange links in strange emails, etc. And you'll be fine.

[Danielfboone]

1. Ransomware is not new. There have been variants of it around for years
2. It should never be necessary to completely wipe the computer to get rid of anything. There are numerous excellent removal tools available like the free version of Malwarebytes. Like the article says, most AV vendors also have removal tools.
3. Get a good protection suite. I recommend Comodo Internet Security which even in it's default state provides the best protection against all malware, especially the new "zero-day" stuff. It's nearly impossible to get infected and, it's free. Do not depend on MSE or Windows Defender. Even Microsoft now recommends using something stronger.
4. Don't open dodgy looking email attachments or links on web pages.
5. It's always a good idea to backup things you don't want to lose on an external hard drive or a thumbdrive.

[Lisaara]

1. Ransomware is not new. There have been variants of it around for years
2. It should never be necessary to completely wipe the computer to get rid of anything. There are numerous excellent removal tools available like the free version of Malwarebytes. Like the article says, most AV vendors also have removal tools.
3. Get a good protection suite. I recommend Comodo Internet Security which even in it's default state provides the best protection against all malware, especially the new "zero-day" stuff. It's nearly impossible to get infected and, it's free. Do not depend on MSE or Windows Defender. Even Microsoft now recommends using something stronger.
4. Don't open dodgy looking email attachments or links on web pages.
5. It's always a good idea to backup things you don't want to lose on an external hard drive or a thumbdrive.

The child porn one is new. That's what I said.

But yes, this was merely to alert people and have them do some serious checking.

[Castile]

Thanks Junrei Its been awhile since ive had a virus on my PC so we all can get complacent from time to time.

[Lisaara]

Indeed. I haven't had any in eons so I felt alarmed to learn of such a nasty virus.

[Danielfboone]

I actually have never been infected in my 14 years on line. My AV has always stopped the few attempts that have been made. That new ransomware does look particularly nasty but you need to make mistakes that nearly every user knows better than to do in order for it to get in your system.

[Lisaara]

I actually have never been infected in my 14 years on line. My AV has always stopped the few attempts that have been made. That new ransomware does look particularly nasty but you need to make mistakes that nearly every user knows better than to do in order for it to get in your system.

You'd be surprised, Daniel. As the article says, people stupidly pay those ransom fees.