"Drive-by" Virus

For this week's blog I visited The FBI website.  I found an interesting piece describing a "drive-by" virus.  This is a newer Internet scam that locks the victim's computer, and demands payment in order to unlock and unfreeze the user's computer.  Interestingly enough, when the pop up appears, it displays a very real looking, however fake, message supposedly from the FBI an stating that the computer has been frozen due to inappropriate web site visits, and that a fine has been assessed and must be paid in order to have your computer unfrozen.  Of course, the payment is to be paid via prepaid money card services.

This virus, known as Reveton, is a bit different and is referred to as a "drive-by' virus because it can install itself when the victim clicks on a compromised website.  The victim's computer then immediately locks and the FBI looking message appears on the screen.

While some people have paid the fine, others have reported the virus.  The Reveton virus, often utilized by hackers in conjunction with Citadel malware was first brought to the FBIs attention in 2003.  The IC3 issued a warning about this virus on their website in May, 2012.  Since that posting, the virus has become more wide spread both in the United States and internationally.  This virus has been mutated into other versions, one of which can turn on a webcam and displays the victim's photo on the frozen screen.

Unfortunately, this virus is not easy to remove from a system.  In fact, the average user will not be able to remove it.  It is suggested that if your system contracts the virus, you do not pay the money or reveal any personal information; take your system to a professional for removal; know that even if you can unfreeze the system, it is likely that the malware will remain on your system gathering and relaying personal information; file a complaint; watch for update information about this virus.

Seeing these reports almost makes me sick.  You know the people that have fallen for these warnings and made the demanded payments are more than likely people that could not afford it.  People's greed seems to have no bounds sometimes.  This type of thing reminds me of the predatory nature of the "contest" mailings many senior citizens receive.  It is an attempt to take something from many that probably do not have that much to spare.

 References

New Internet Scam - 'Ransomware' Locks Computers, Demands Payment. (2012). Retrieved from fbi.gov: http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2012/august/new-internet-scam/new-internet-scam