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?"

Comments

Is this the future?

[Anonymous Coward]

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?

All your dataz

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

Re:This has been done before

[Daimanta]

MS-DOS 6.22

Re:This has been done before

[ColdWetDog]

Perhaps someone can remember what it was called.

America On Line?

Gonna be ok

[Joebert]

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.

I got infected by this virus

[Anonymous Coward]

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

Re:But were they smart, or stupid?

[Cajun Hell]

if this virus becomes really widespread, the malware author could create a rouge anti-virus program

But a crimson anti-virus program can detect a rouge one.

Re:But were they smart, or stupid?

[secolactico]

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.

Re:But were they smart, or stupid?

[Chaxid]

And when the $1 ends up in a bank in Nigeria, then what? Oh please! We all know there aren't any REAL banks in Nigeria.

Re:But were they smart, or stupid?

[hey]

They send the decrypt code with Western Union?
As a telegram? Do they still exist?

Re:But were they smart, or stupid?

[Anonymous Coward]

anyone with half a brain will not give out their bank account details when blackmailing someone. I beg to differ. Prince Omadeke has been very forthcoming with all the bank details, officially signed documents, and necessary guarantees to ensure our secret transaction is carried out according to all successful modalities.

Re:But were they smart, or stupid?

[commodoresloat]

STOP.

Re:But were they smart, or stupid?

[RexDevious]

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.

Re:But were they smart, or stupid?

[silvalen]

HAMMER TIME.