Tip #4656 - Ransomware
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Ransomware
I'm sure all of
you have heard of worms, Trojans, adware, spyware and viruses, right?
Those nasty little bugs are the reason for troublesome computer problems
throughout the world. Well, today, I have a new type of attack to
add to the list. This type of bug is called ransomware.
Ransomware has been around for awhile in the computer world, but it
hasn't really taken off until recently.
So, what is ransomware,
you ask?
Well, ransomware
is technically a program. It basically takes over your computer and
then requires you to pay to get your system back to normal. Usually,
it will infect your system through a bad Web site or via a pop up
window, but it can also come in through an e-mail attachment or a
download. Once your system is infected with the bad software, it will
let you know right away. More than likely, you will see a screen come
up that tells you what damage will be done to your computer if you
don't pay in time. It will require you to pay in a certain way and
in turn, you will be given a code to turn off the software and stop
the damage from continuing.
There are a couple
well known ransomware programs currently in use around the Web. One
is called Ransom.A. That program will tell you it will destroy one
file every 30 minutes until the ransom is paid. This program seems
very bad, but in reality, it does no damage to your system. It is
simply a scare tactic to get you to pay the fee. While this specific
ransomware causes no damage to your system, there are several others
that truly do what they say. Those programs can cause serious harm
to your computer or they simply just embarrass the infected user by
popping up pornographic material on their screen.
No matter what
the damage, it's important to protect your computer against these
growing threats. The good news is you don't need to have any additional
protection on your system to shield you from ransomware. If you keep
your antivirus software up to date and have a good pop up blocker,
you will remain safe from these threats. If your system should end
up infected with one of these programs, do not panic and do not pay
the ransom! It's best to run a full system scan with your antivirus
software instead. The program can then be found and removed. If it's
not removed, your antivirus company should give you a link to a Web
site with removal steps. Until next time, stay safe out there, my
friends!
~ Gary
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