A Very Nasty Virus Coming Your Way

It was bound to happen and now it has. The nastiest computer virus I have ever encountered has hit Ireland and it’s coming your way. This is no ordinary virus in fact it’s revolutionary and it will set a trend which is likely to continue. It’s reported that one group of four individuals controlling it netted 27 million dollars from victims between October 15 to December 18, 2013.

Say hello to Cryptolocker potentially the nastiest virus to hit Windows computers to date.

What This Virus Does

This virus is different very different because it does one thing and one thing only, it secretly encrypts data files including documents and spreadsheets with a password and then demands a ransom of between 300 and 500 dollars. If you don’t pay there is no way to get your files back and you get a time limit after which the virus controller will delete the password to your files meaning they are gone forever. Even if you do pay the ransom you may not get the password to unlock your files.  Removing the virus from your computer is possible but it is not possible to unencrypt your files. 

What Files It Targets

The virus and variants are known to encrypt documents, spreadsheets, Outlook email and a host of other files. The virus will search and encrypt files on your local computer, network shares, usb connected devices and cloud storage if connect via a drive letter.

Infection Method

Currently the virus is known to spread via email messages which either contain the virus loader or else invite you to click a website link where the virus will automatically download and execute on your computer. The email will come from what appears to be legitimate source or it may come from a friend who has recently had their email hacked.

Defending And Preparing For It

There is only one viable defence for this virus, Frequent offline backups of your important data. To protect the backup disconnect it from the computer after the backup otherwise if you get infected the virus will encrypt it also. Do not rely on your anti-virus software to protect you. The risk to your data is simply too great.

Wikipedia article on this virus Click Here 

Oliver Reidy is a computer technician and has been in the industry since 1981.You can contact him via email at help.desk@reidyonline.com or at the telephone numbers listed on this page.