A dangerous virus is rapidly spreading through Windows computers around the world, extorting money from users.
The virus falls in to the category of Ransomware and is called “CryptoLocker,” which most of the time comes disguised as a download attachment on emails and infects computers with a software that encrypts user’s personal files automatically without permission. Computer users don’t even notice this happening on their computers until CryptoLocker issues a notice giving users a 96 hours time to pay $300 to decrypt those files or they gets wiped away forever.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued an alert for Windows users to be aware of this virus, especially when dealing with emails as it has been found to spread via emails that “mimic the look of legitimate businesses” such as FedEx and UPS tracking notices. Apparently, the virus has been found to infect Windows 7, Vista, and XP. Although, according to Read Write Web, Windows 8 and MacOS users are also vulnerable to this virus.
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CryptoLocker has the ability to take over user data in USB drives, external hard drives, network file shares and even cloud storage drives, so make sure you keep a hard copy of your most valuable data just in case. We have to deal with more emails around this time of the year and getting fooled into downloading a virus can be an easy mistake. The best way to avoid getting infected is to be extra cautious even when you open emails sent by people you know and always avoid clicking on shortened, unsolicited links.
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