Ransomware is a nasty piece of malware that has already left a lot of people frustrated and out-of-pocket.

Ransomware is just what the name implies; a Trojan or virus that infects your computer and locks you out. The virus displays a message demanding a certain sum of money, in exchange for unlocking your system.

Example of Reveton Ransomware warning

Reveton is the newest version of Ransomware, discovered in 2012 by security blog abuse.ch. It infects a computer’s systems and displays a warning, supposedly from a law enforcement agency, claiming that the computer in question has been used for illegal activities. These range from pirating music and software, to viewing illegal pornography.

The warning states that in light of this, the computer will remain locked until a certain sum of money is paid. To make the scam appear legitimate, the computer’s IP address is displayed, and some even purportedly show footage from the computer’s webcam.

All this is done to convince the user that the lock-out is legal and genuine, with the aim of scaring them into coughing up the cash. They even go the extra mile by displaying messages customised to local settings, with the names and logos of local law enforcement agencies.

This version of Ransomware has already targeted computers in U.K., Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands

The virus gains access to computers through an exploit kit called “Blackhole”. This piece of illegal software takes advantage of security holes in browsers or third-party plug-ins, such as Java. If programmes are not up-to-speed with the latest patches, Blackhole can worm its way into system through software vulnerabilities, and lock you out.

To combat this nasty piece of software, make sure all security software, programmes, and browsers are patched and up-to-date with the latest versions.

For the best advice on computer security, talk to the team at Advanced Computers!