While most internet users know about malware and virus, one nasty little customer has recently reared its head and is blackmailing people into have their computers ‘unlocked’.
Ransomware is malware that infects computers, and the Kovter malware is particularly virulent. According to data protection company Damballa and its threat research team, infections related to the Kovter malware have doubled over the past month – up from 7,000 to 15,000 infections.
As with many other varieties of Ransomware, the blackmailer takes control of your computer and displays a message saying you have broken the law. The ‘ransom’ is to pay a fine (typically around $300) to regain normal use of your computer. The warning states you will face severe fines and prison if you don’t pay the fine before the deadline.
In the US, Kovter uses the prepaid card MoneyPak as the payment method of choice while Ukash and paysafecard are used for victims in other locations. These payment methods give attackers untraceable, and gives the blackmailer readily accessible funds in electronic cash.
There are ways to fight back against this form of online abuse. For those in the US, you can also file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). This experienced team, which is a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center, can help determine which law enforcement agencies should be involved in these types of criminal investigations.
It’s important to note that paying the ransom will not remove the malware from your system or restore your computer functionality in most cases. The fightback starts here…
Monty Munford has more than 15 years' experience in mobile, digital media, web and journalism. He is the founder of Mob76, a company that helps tech companies raise money and exit. He speaks regularly at global media events with a focus on Africa, writes a weekly column for The Telegraph, is a regular contributor to The Economist, Wired, Mashable and speaks regularly on the BBC World Service.
