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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."
Its not like you can call the police and complain about it. You'll instantly get labeled as a pedo and have your kids taken away.
I'm pretty sure with all the "DINK OF TEH CHILLUNS!" bullshit that goes on that we burn anyone that looks at child porn at the stake, no one will believe they can get away with it for just a fine.
I think it's a great scam, because people are terrified of the idea of being associated with child porn. A threat like that will ensure they don't go to a repair shop, or mention it to anyone. Not the police, not friends or family. Noone. Greatly reducing the chance of the sucker being told it's a scam.
You are not the target of this scam.
That would also make them distributors and the target of just about every federal and most international police forces. As it stands now, it's just extorsion so as far as the governments are concerned, they're just lumped in with all the other un-prosecuted Nigerian scammers.
Pay money or your IM/irc friends gets random Windows 8 questions .... interlaced with Maths 101 questions...
It took you a long time to find Linux users, pity if they where to think of you as dual booting...
Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
Bury the old dribe somewhere unretrievable
I guess "old dribe" must be the guy sending out these blackmail notices then.
In most places, Illegal porn gets you a a dirty look from the judge and a fine if you are really unlucky. CP on the other hand can get you a 20+ year sentence in the US.
It doesn't matter if the victim watches it or not. The scammers are hoping to exploit the fact that their victims would be reluctant to seek help out of fear of false prosecution, which is not as far fetched as I'd like to. Personally, I'd suggest zero-write to anyone who caught this bug. I wouldn't count on the malware authors not putting incriminating evidence on infected systems and even putting spiteful logic bombs which trigger when you clean the infection. Better paranoid than trying to reason with the pitchfork jury.
I've seen a version that's been localised to the UK; apparently there are also versions localised to Canada. I haven't analysed it but it wouldn't surprise me if it's all the same trojan and it uses geolocation to display an appropriate logo.
Brilliant scam because even if the user knows it's a load of rubbish, nobody wants to be even remotely associated with paedophilia. You'd have to be a bit of an idiot to think you could make such an accusation go away by paying a small fine - or for that matter to believe that the police's MO in these cases is to put a great big warning on your screen (rather than to arrest you at dawn and take all your computers away), but I suspect there are probably enough idiots in this world to make it profitable.
Well, for example, porn that depicts violent acts, even between consensual adults, is illegal in the UK.
The performers have a defence as long as the acts they participate in are acts which a person is legally able to consent to in the UK, but the photographer and others present (sound crew, director, etc) are on the hook.
A relatively recent law as well, so not some antiquated sodomy law.
Who couldn't see this coming? First, you make "looking at child porn" the worstest crime imaginable, like genocide against against a million nuns, worst than murder, worst than cannibalism, worst than, I don't know, eating fatty food, and then you...PROFIT!
Anybody want to bet that in the next few years (or less) we'll be hearing about some major politician who has (cue the somber, scary music...) looked at drawings of naked children.
"Is he right for America? We don't think so. Paid for by Americans for Families and Stopping Immoral Behavior among People Who are Different From Us."
You are welcome on my lawn.
A translator of Manga comics recently got convicted of child pornography in the district court and the court of appeal in Sweden. This picture (nothing nasty really) was judged as child pornography by the district court, but was cleared in appeal. He was still found guilty in appeal though, but for other pictures. The case is currently being heard by the Supreme Court.
The defendant is not a child abuser by any means, and in all likelihood hasn't got any pedophilic tendencies. He's just a fan of Japanese comics and owns a huge collection of those.
The operators of this extortion system should be on the "Public Enemy #1" list. Not only are they an organized syndicate extorting from Americans, on a very large and nationwide scale. They are impersonating Federal officers to do it. Protecting the ability of Americans to respect someone who claims to be a cop, especially a Federal one, is among the highest priorities of the Justice Department. Or at least it should be.
The failure of the FBI and the other cop agencies we give $BILLIONS to every year, who have vast and even un-Constitutional powers to do whatever they want in the name of protecting us, to do what's necessary to stop these giant phishing operations is baffling mystery. Why banks are allowed to let their trademarked brands get diluted by phishers robbing in their name, resulting in large and widespread losses contrary to the very essence of trademark and copyright, is a mystery. But the failure of the cops to protect themselves is even more bizarre.
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make install -not war