Deception in depth

What is ransomware? by Sherisse Pham   @Sherisse June 28, 2017: 9:01 AM ET Replay How to protect yourself from hackers Ransomware attacks are escalating. The technique of using a computer virus to hold data hostage has been around for decades, gaining more notoriety in recent years. But the two massive attacks that spread around the world recently -- one last month and another on Tuesday -- have taken it to a whole new level. "It's only going to get worse and worse and worse," said Michael Gazeley, managing director of cybersecurity firm Network Box. "And it's absurd because companies have had years to prepare for this." Here's the lowdown on this type of malicious software scam: Related: Another big malware attack ripples across the world How ransomware works At its heart, ransomware mimics the age old crime of kidnapping: someone takes some...

University College of London getroffen door ransomware 15 juni 2017   Nieuws De University College of London (UCL) is getroffen door een ransomware-uitbraak. De IT-afdeling van de universiteiten heeft toegang tot netwerkopslag geblokkeerd om het versleutelen van data door de ransomware te stoppen. Alleen Windows systemen zijn getroffen. Dit meldt de UCL in een verklaring op haar website. De ransomware-uitbraak is woensdagavond begonnen en vermoedelijk ontstaan via een e-mail waarmee malafide software is meegestuurd. Deze e-mail is vermoedelijk door een gebruiker geopend, waarna de ransomware bestanden op zowel lokale schijven als gedeelde netwerkschijven heeft versleuteld. Virusscanners hebben de ransomware niet opgemerkt, waardoor de IT-afdeling van de UCL spreekt over een mogelijke zero-day aanval. “We hebben het besluit genomen de toegang tot de UCL N en S schijven en enkele andere systemen te blokkeren om de kans op verdere infect...

Latvian man indicted for scareware Malware caused pop-ups to appear on targeted computers purporting to be a security software product. Following extradition from Poland, a Latvian man appeared in a Minneapolis court on Monday accused of a “scareware” hacking scheme that made use of the Minneapolis Star Tribune 's website and led to millions of dollars in damages, acccording to a statement from the Department of Justice. Peteris Sahurovs, aka “Piotrek” and “Sagade,” was indicted on wire fraud, computer fraud and conspiracy charges in 2011 in Minnesota. He was arrested in Latvia in 2011, but fled following his release. He was arrested in Poland in 2016 and the U.S. began extradition proceedings. He was the FBI's fifth most wanted cybercriminal with a $50,000 reward offered for his arrest and conviction. Sahurovs is accused of unleashing malware that caused pop-ups to appear on targeted computers purporting to be a security software product, which the recip...