BBB Warning: ‘Cryptolocker’ is the latest breed of computer malwareA new malware program is holding personal information for ransomBetter Business Bureau (BBB) serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin is warning consumers of a malware program that accesses your personal computer and holds it hostage. A release by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) explains that “Cryptolocker” encrypts all your personal documents, photos and files so you can no longer open them. Con artists then demand money in order to give you access again. The FTC reports that Cryptolocker is spread mostly through downloads by way of email. The email might look like a normal message from an authentic company, similar to a tracking notice from a shipping company. However, when you click the hyperlink in the email, Cryptolocker encrypts everything on your hard drive and in your shared folders. Once the software has accessed all your files, a “ransom note” appears asking for payment via Bitcoin or another anonymous payment method. Once scammers have taken your files hostage, there is no other way to unlock them other than to pay. The scammer uses an encryption key as a bargaining tool, but there is no guarantee the con artist will honor their word and return access. BBB suggests the best way to avoid getting dangerous malware on your computer is to:
For more tips you can trust, visit bbb.org. For the latest news and information, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. To check out a company and find trustworthy businesses, visit bbb.org. Find other news story topics by visiting our Press Release News Center. ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau has been helping consumers find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2012, consumers turned to BBB 124 million times for Business Reviews on more than 4.5 million companies and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. BBB serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin serves 79 counties in Texas, is supported by more than 11,000 Accredited Businesses, and in 2012 handled nearly 23,000 complaints for consumers doing business in our service area. | |
Alice Business Today - February 2014 |