Beware of “Ransomware”

Rogueware with new Ransomware Technology™ from Panda Security on Vimeo.

“In December, the FBI issued a warning about a broader category of malicious programs called “rogueware.” These programs appear on users’ machines and claim to find viruses, then offer to clean them for $50.  Rogueware looks so realistic — complete with Windows-like dialog boxes and scary warnings — that Web users were tricked into sending $150 million to criminals last year, the FBI says.

The new ransomware is similar, but far more aggressive.  Once a computer is infected with it, the program does more than recommend a software purchase –it simply won’t let users continue to use their PC until they pay up.

Luis Corrons Granel, a researcher at Panda Security, said use of ransomware by criminals is exploding — 25 percent of all rogueware in the past quarter involved a family of intimidating products named “TotalAntivirus.” It demands that users pay $50 for two years, $79 for a lifetime license.

“The increase (in ransomware) has been really significant,” Granel said. A single family of ransomware programs called “Total Security” made up one-quarter of all rogueware programs detected during the past three months, he said.”   – Source: MSNBC