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US Warns Users of Child-Porn Blackmail Ransomware

coondoggie writes "The nasty Trojan known as Citadel malware, which is based on Zeus, has typically been used to extort money from online banking users, but a new variant is making the rounds that tries to get your money by saying you looked at child porn sites and must pay a violation fee to the U.S. Department of Justice. This variation, called Reveton, lures the victim to a drive-by download website, at which time the ransomware is installed on the user's computer, says the U.S. Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Once installed, the computer freezes and a screen is displayed warning the user they have violated United States Federal Law."

2 of 196 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Scummy yet brilliant. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Seems to me that from your post American law has a much bigger problem than the Russians do in this particular instance.

  2. Re:Scummy yet brilliant. by Joce640k · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This is why "possession" of something shouldn't be a crime. Anything can be planted in your house/PC/car/whatever without your knowledge.

    A country which allows a computer virus to ruin your life and make you forever unemployable has some serious problems with its laws.

    PS: I cleaned up a machine with this three or four months ago here in Spain.

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