Pay or lose data

Many employees of U.S-based companies and government contractors received a threatening message warning that all the sensitive information containing files on computer will be deleted unless a sum of money is wired to cyber criminals.

A closer look to at this intruder, including a copy of the ransom note, which demands $300 for a special key supposedly designed to let victims unscramble documents encrypted by the virus was made by Russian anti-virus company Kaspersky Lab, according to Washingtonpost.com. There’s no information whether the key really works, or whether the company have created a free decryption key that could help to regain access to the documents.

Booz Allen Hamilton, Unisys Corp (computer services company), L-3 communications, computer maker Hewlett-Packard Co. and satellite network provider Hughes Network Systems are only a few names that have been attacked by these crooks. There are hundreds more of various corporations and services that are in danger to lose valuable information.

The main question concerning this incident was why such a small amount of money was asked for such a tall risk. The guess is made that probably $300 is a great deal in the criminals’ hometown. Washingtonpost.com also made a statement that it’s a decent price, because is more likely to convince people with $300 than with $3000. Moreover, if the sum was higher it would probably be easier to purchase a new computer that to deal with all inconveniences.

Virtual blackmail is now taken rather seriously by international law enforcement entities. It is also a type of crime that attracts interests of multiple.

Washingtonpost.com suggests being patient if you are hit with something like this. This is not a first blackmailing incident so such anti-virus firms as Trend and Kaspersky Lab are working hardly on devising a free decryption key that should help infected companies and users regain access to their documents.     

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