File encryption blackmail scam returns

Kaspersky warns of new and nasty data-ransom trojan.

Malware analysts at Kaspersky Lab have warned of the return of the 'Gpcoder' trojan, a nasty piece of 'ransomware' which encrypts victims' files and demands money for the decryption key.

Previous outbreaks of the scam, seen sporadically since the first appearance of such nasties in 2004, have all been foiled by security experts, including Kaspersky's remarkable cracking of a 660-bit encryption key in 2006. The latest variant includes fixes for several flaws spotted in previous waves, and also 1024-bit encryption techniques, which have yet to be broken.

Kaspersky has received reports of infections from numerous victims. Details of the threat, including advice on remediation and the promise of updates in the event of further developments, are on the company's blog here.

Virus Bulletin suggests that readers keep secure backups of all sensitive or valuable data, at all times.

05 June 2008

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1 comment

I have been harrassed on and off for two years now by a person called

"shadowraith' among many other names such as shadowcatcher,lurker,sdbot,ircbot,crimsonshadows,michelle devereaux. The harrassment started from a forum called usleuth last year. This person

claims she is smarter than 'Bill Gates". I don't know about that but I know she has a seedy past and has pretended to be law enforcment. She is a supposed computor expert who can and does manipulate microsoft ware. She is famous for her so called intrusion codes and has tampered with and invaded my computer many times. She is at best a cyber bully. She claims to be an expert in forensics and has been doing her devious crap for years.How can she be stopped. I am one of many victims. A lot of people are afraid of her . I am just sick of her. Is there someone who can help me with this.? She was known in past times to be a follower of micheal aquino of the santanist cult TEMPLE OF SET.

by alice j, 11 June 2008, 00:17