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Sneaky Blackmailing Virus That Encrypts Data

Posted by timothy on from the ouch-and-double-ouch dept.

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?"

3 of 409 comments (clear)

  1. Re:!_READ_ME_!.txt by Jor-Al · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    [darth vader voice]nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooo[/darth vader voice]

  2. Re:All your dataz by TCP-mHz · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I wish I had mod points right now.

  3. Re:But were they smart, or stupid? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Macs are 22 years running, never a single remotely compromised Mac ever, so there is no reason to ever worry about this crap occurring on anything that sports an Apple logo. Encrypting viruses are for the Linux and Windows people to worry about, until they make the Switch to a platform that offers more than token security, like a lock on a door of a tent.