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303 Comments
- foltaggio, on 07/11/2008, -5/+2271. Place malware on victim's computer
2. Encrypt it for ransom
3. Profit!
The ??? has been discovered. - jimminy, on 06/11/2008, -5/+134They are cracking an encryption key without permission from the author? Isn't that illegal?
- ButchersBoy, on 06/11/2008, -10/+96Get a router and don't download anything executable that you don't trust. It's that simple people. I haven't run a virus killer for years.
- HookmasterCH47, on 06/11/2008, -4/+88This is why organized crime is cool. They encrypt your data or... bash your skull in with a bat. That's how you diversify your business.
- fluidfoundation, on 06/11/2008, -0/+74Damn... hate to say but that's pretty ***** clever.
all I can think about is harrison ford running around grabbing random people saying "I want my family back!" - inactive, on 06/11/2008, -13/+84At least they had the decency to not destroy your files.
- Lemonblood, on 06/11/2008, -2/+67At least the Malware is free!
- delorenj, on 06/11/2008, -1/+52What an extremely disturbing - yet, brilliant idea!
- jp12380, on 06/11/2008, -6/+53You could pay the ransom with cc then explain what happened to your cc company.
- f4nt0m4s, on 06/11/2008, -1/+43A virus that forces file encryption is a scary thought. I hope they find a solution to crack it, I would hate to see this technology implemented by the RIAA or MPAA or any major organization.
- CLShortFuse, on 06/11/2008, -1/+42Though, the creator of the virus can't place charges without first admitting to being the creator of the malicious virus.
- MmmPi, on 06/11/2008, -1/+41But, three rights make a left
- inactive, on 06/11/2008, -2/+35The key is 1-2-3-4-5
- voetsjoeba, on 06/11/2008, -4/+36It is, actually. Basic computer security checklist:
- ignore emails from people you don't know
- do not ever open e-mail attachments without having scanned them
- do not use IE
- ... and if you have to, do not mindlessly click "Yes" when a "Do you want to install X" screen pops up
- do not ever open downloaded files without having scanned them
- keep your software updated
- do not install random ActiveX components so you can see Paris Hilton's nude video
- do not believe popups that look like Windows warning messages claiming that you need to use [random malware name] to clean your computer
- do not click on MSN messages that look like "Hey, is this you? :D:D http://infect.me.please.cin0.ru/funny.pif"
And that about covers it. It's just baffling to me how many people still open e-mail attachments that anyone with a brain can tell will get your computer ***** up. This virus is no exception; if you read the Blackmailer story the article links to, you'll see that people got it by opening an e-mail attachment. - fluidfoundation, on 06/11/2008, -2/+33It's like a hooker with a heart of gold, except getting ***** in this situation is not as much fun.
- JMV290, on 06/11/2008, -1/+30Sign them up for some bestiality newsletters.
- GregViers, on 06/11/2008, -2/+30The author of the virus uses the following email addresses:
content715@yahoo.com
saveinfo89@yahoo.com
cipher4000@yahoo.com
decrypt482@yahoo.com
Anybody know how to break yahoo accounts? ;) - porkdanish, on 06/11/2008, -1/+29"researchers have yet to crack the encryption key."
This implies that they expect to crack 1024-bit RSA encryption. I'll go on the record now that this isn't going to happen without insider information. - idntunknwn, on 06/11/2008, -1/+28Would it be possible to track where the money is going so that you can arrest the bastards?
- loneBoat, on 06/11/2008, -0/+27It's not a matter of decency - if they destroyed the files they couldn't really ask for ransome.
"Hah! I just erased your hard drive. Now give me $100!"
"Why would I give you money? You just erased my hard drive..."
"Oh..." - byleth, on 06/11/2008, -0/+26Haven't you ever heard of public key cryptography? The malware simply encrypts the data with the attacker's public key, which can be hard coded. After that, only the attacker's secret key (which only the attacker knows) can decrypt it. The key used to encrypt the data (the one that is hard coded) is not the same as the key used to decrypt it.
- benologist, on 06/11/2008, -1/+27Ransom has always been the best answer to so many questions.
PS. If you ever want to see your cat again... - drlha, on 06/11/2008, -0/+26Would a credit card refund you as you knowingly made the payment though? Its one thing having your card cloned, another knowingly making a payment to a criminal enterprise.
- Pimpalicious316, on 06/11/2008, -0/+23alright, I'll admit I busted out a pen and paper to confirm that three rights do indeed make a left.
- fotbr, on 06/11/2008, -1/+24That's the same combination as my luggage!
- EnderMB, on 06/11/2008, -0/+22When in doubt, use "password".
- sensor, on 06/11/2008, -9/+31It's just not that simple... It would be nice if it were.
- terrablebyte, on 06/11/2008, -2/+24I thought it was 09-f9-11-02-9d-74-e3-5b-d8-41-56-c5-63-56-88-c0?
- DangerMouse9, on 06/11/2008, -2/+24go ahead and kill the cat, it's cheaper than putting it to sleep.
- fluidfoundation, on 06/11/2008, -1/+21Let me introduce you to our good friend sarcasm.
- AssassinWarrior, on 06/11/2008, -0/+19we should all just spam those emails hahaha
- ukblacknight, on 06/11/2008, -0/+18So you've already paid the ransom then haven't you :P
- rompom7, on 06/11/2008, -1/+19Encrypted underpants? The chastity belt for the digital generation.
- Kappa00, on 06/11/2008, -0/+18Two wrongs don't make a right!
/mom - Cruelapollo, on 06/11/2008, -0/+18Is it a bad thing that I clicked on that link just to see if you'd actually try to infect me?
- TheMidnight, on 06/11/2008, -0/+17Like anyone in the "digital generation" needs a chastity belt to ensure they don't get laid.
- diggduggjoe, on 06/11/2008, -0/+17WhiteHat@home! Where do I sign up? That would be a great project.
- AlmostEvil, on 06/11/2008, -0/+16This can be easily fixed by using something like getdataback or some undelete utility. The malware encrypts the file and then deletes the original. Since it doesn't have direct access to the hard drive itself (unable to write directly over the old files) then any undelete program will allow you to recover your files.
- JMV290, on 06/11/2008, -0/+1415 million computers running for a year? Couldn't they speed that up by doing something similar to SETI@home or Folding@home? I'd run it.
- jamesmcginnis, on 06/11/2008, -0/+14Maybe someone should ask Yahoo??
- kpetree10, on 06/11/2008, -0/+13But two Wrights make an Airplane!
- maxbeatty, on 05/01/2009, -2/+15"Gpcode.ak doesn't not repeat the errors found in previous versions of the virus"
So it does? - CrazyArcher, on 06/11/2008, -0/+13NO! It doesn't not!
- OrangeTide, on 06/11/2008, -2/+15There is a lot of anti-linux sentiment. Mostly people just hate linux fanbois.
- donte, on 06/11/2008, -0/+13base... singular. When making such a reference, please ensure that you're using the correct broken English.
- nukemunky, on 06/11/2008, -1/+14"Give me back my DATA!"
- crazyjake, on 06/11/2008, -0/+12shiny side away keeps the aliens at bay!!
- KenRay, on 06/11/2008, -0/+12Wasn't even too tricky with the name selected. I would have gone with Spammy McSpammerton.
- TRScheel, on 06/11/2008, -7/+19If you think Mac's aren't just as susceptible to viruses your an idiot. The plain fact is that its not as profitable to scam Mac users as there aren't as many.
- Testiculese, on 06/11/2008, -2/+14Don't think your workers are as computer-smart as they claim. Quick quiz: What browser?
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