Sign in / up

back to article Cyber hostage-takers SCAMMED six times as many people last year

Malware-powered frauds that lock up victims' computers - or worse yet, encrypt files and force them to pay a fee to unlock their information - increased by 500 per cent during 2013, according to a study by Symantec. Symantec's latest global Internet Security Threat Report also revealed that targeted attack campaigns for the …

COMMENTS

House rules Send corrections
This topic is closed for new posts.
  1. Ted Treen
    Mushroom

    Harrumph...

    It's arseholes like these who make me reconsider my long-held opposition to Capital Punishment.

    2 0
    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Harrumph...

      Too good for them.

      I suggest forced labour camps for these kind of people....

      2 0
      1. AbelSoul
        Reply Icon

        Re: Capital punishment...

        Too good for them.

        Crucifixion's a doddle...

        0 0
  2. Alister

    Personal assistants and those working in public relations were the two most targeted professions, according to Symantec's report

    The solution is obvious...

    B Ark.

    4 0
    1. Steven Raith
      Reply Icon

      I dunno about PAs - I've met PAs who do most of the job of the person they are PAing to, with said Important Person basically being a customer service rep for the operation, in effect.

      Completely agree with marketint types, however. Although I think a B-Ark might be more expensive than my choice, which is just an AK47 and a good deal on bulk 7.62x39 rounds...

      Steven R

      1 0
  3. phil dude
    Pint

    separate points of failure?

    Perhaps this makes the use of a NAS and PC prerfeable? Especially if "copy-on-write" type filesystems can be enabled...

    Of course, some care to hide NAS controls....

    Just a thought, but would make a multiple target payload necessary....

    P.

    0 0
    1. Alister
      Reply Icon

      Re: separate points of failure?

      Reading a recent thread on here, it appears that Cryptolocker, at least, will happily encrypt not only your local drive, but any attached shares as well, so your idea wouldn't work.

      0 0

  4. This post has been deleted by its author

    1. keithpeter Silver badge
      Reply Icon
      Windows

      Re: Compared to

      @Fray Way

      Just an idea: GCHQ put up a site where you can upload an image of a locked drive and use it for decryption practice. If successful, you get an email with a link to the restored image, and a tutorial on cyber security.

      Positive PR.

      Waddythink?

      1 0
  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Malware-powered cyber-espionage ..

    Ban this LUnex maware from the InterTUBEs now !

    0 0
This topic is closed for new posts.

Other stories you might like