Slashdot Mirror
Sneaky Blackmailing Virus That Encrypts Data
BaCa writes "Kaspersky Lab found a new variant of Gpcode which encrypts files with various extensions using an RSA encryption algorithm with a 1024-bit key. After Gpcode.ak encrypts files on the victim machine, it changes the extension of these files to ._CRYPT and places a text file named !_READ_ME_!.txt in the same folder. In the text file the criminal tells the victims that the file has been encrypted and offers to sell them a decryptor. Is this a look into the future where the majority of malware will function based on extortion?"
I don't know! Stop asking me those questions all the time. Is it obligatory to end every blurb with a question, or what?
Joe User: Someone set us up the encryption. We get no data. Readme file turn on.
Jack Hacker: How are you gentlemen? All your data are belong to us.
MS-DOS 6.22
Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power lost.
It was called *$&&^$(VG(^I^, now pay up for the decrypted name.
America On Line?
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
I'm not going to worry about this.
I'm sure the fine folks of our Government are watching everything that happens on my computer & will promptly decrypt my files for me using their built-in back doors.
Wanna fight ? Bend over, stick your head up your ass, and fight for air.
My computer was infected by this virus... luckily all my files were already encrypted so all it did was make plain-text versions of everything and leave me a file asking for a donation
Then we should paste a caption on you that says "Backups: Your doin it wrong."
Those who advocate genocide deserve every protection afforded by law, and none afforded by common human decency.
Maybe it will not surprise you to know that Geek Squad is behind this scam. They will never try to collect extortion money as their real target revenue is the 65 dollar check-up fee they will get when consumers bring their computers in to find out what has gone wrong. Of course, the fee is higher if you don't have extended warranty, or if you installed your own antivirus software.
Of course I could be wrong.... but it's a thought
Support NYCountryLawyer RIAA vs People
But a crimson anti-virus program can detect a rouge one.
"Believe me!" -- Donald Trump
Or get GNU/Linux.
He did say "good corporate citizen", so if you are not paying for it, you obviously have something to hide and should be reported.
Damn commie scum.
No sig
Where'd you find that joke? Surely you can't makeup humor like that on your own.
They send the decrypt code with Western Union?
As a telegram? Do they still exist?
I'll append a sarcasm tag next time. By the way, that bit of info is insanely depressing, and kind of made me feel a bit insensitive. Mod parent up.
STOP.
Wait a minute... Western Union has absolutely nothing in place to flag illegal payments? You can't fill out the form saying the money is for blackmail?
Jeez. If not - I'd fill out the form saying the payment was to help Osama Bin Laden buy some Yellow Cake Uranium-flavoured rolling papers that had pictures of Child Porn on ons side, and copy written Metallica lyrics and Vista Activation codes on the other. Surely one of our many country's many Big Brother Agency would ensure the black mailer had a quick career change.
This makes it a little too easy:
/.
/.
1. Follow the money trail to the asshat (probably based in China or Russia).
2. Post the info on
3. I lead a mob of bored geeks to go beat the mustard out of this punk (and get the private key)
4. decryption algo posted on
5. everyone laughs at you, but at least you get your data back, and I get to crush someone's skull. everyone wins!
-Billco, Fnarg.com
I'd take it as a compliment to how good RH appears to a moron such as him - if he thinks it's good enough to compete with Windows, then it's pretty much shattered the idea that Linux is only for smart people (it sounds like you could hardly get anyone dumber to prove it).
HAMMER TIME.
Silly.
COLLABORATE AND LISTEN
-- Sorry, I can't think of anything funny to say here.