...1 Ransomware: The latest craze Well, not really. Ransomware has been around for over 10 years but has been gaining in popularity as the hackers’ latest way of extorting money from you. So, what is it? As the name implies, it’s malware (malicious software) which has kidnapped your computer and is holding it for ransom. It works like this. You click on an unsuspecting link from a web page, social networking site, email message or (lately) Skype instant message. This launches a program which then starts to encrypt/lock some or all of the files on your hard drive. In the meantime, you are shown a fake web page from the FBI, CIA or some other agency to make you believe you’re in legal trouble and could even face prosecution. They’ll use scare tactics such as telling you that your computer contains illegally downloaded files ranging anywhere from music and movies to child pornography. They will then ask you to pay money for them to unlock and restore your files. As you’ve already probably guessed, they won’t keep their promise. They’ve got your money and now can, and possibly will, sell your credit card info to other hackers and make even more money off of you. They have no reason to “help you out” so, don’t think for a minute that they will help even if you pay them. How can you protect yourself from malware? Keep all of your computer software up to date. Make sure that you have up-to-date firewall and antivirus software installed on your computer. Most importantly...
Words: 367 - Pages: 2
...Cryptolocker Ransomware: A Ransom no more! Christopher S Ebingersmith University of Maryland University College June 24, 2015 Introduction Cryptolocker Ransomware is part of a larger number of malware campaigns infecting large numbers of computer systems. This new variant of ransomware is more egregious in nature as it not only holds the system hostage as other types of ransomware, but through the course of infection a great number files, when found, are encrypted by this malware. The primary vector of infection is through the use of phishing email attempts to entice unwitting users to click on malicious attachments. Once the system is infected Cryptolocker hides, slowly beginning to affect the availability of files on the affected system communicating back to the “attackers’ command and control (C2) server to deposit the asymmetric key out of the victim’s reach.” (Alert, 2013) Cryptolocker, which only seems to affect Windows based targets, first popped up on security radars in September of 2013, “and these early versions were distributed via social engineering and spam emails that try to entice business professionals into opening an attached Zip file.” (Kostadinov, 2014) The zip files were thinly disguised as a 20kb file with some file names between 13 and 17 characters that mimicked “the look of legitimate businesses and through phony FedEx and UPS tracking notices.”(Alert, 2013) Spamming was the primary method utilized to infect potential hosts; this really contained...
Words: 833 - Pages: 4
...Ransomware Discuss the threat When infected restricts you to access to a computer system. This will become more refined in its targets and methods. Experts predict that the variants of ransomware that hurt the security software that are installed within a computer may particularly target the endpoints which sign up with cloud-based storage solutions like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive and many more. On detecting the endpoint, ransomware will exploit the stored personal credentials of the logged-in user and will even infect the cloud storage that is backed up. McAfee has warned that ransomware attackers will try out as many ways possible to shell out ransom payments from their victims. Degree of damage The most advanced and most damaging ransomware in the wild at the moment, specifically targeting U.S. businesses and individuals. It's a $70 million per year criminal enterprise. Its magnitude is now confirmed by law enforcement. Some quick math shows $18,145 in costs per victim, caused by network mitigation, network countermeasures, loss of productivity, legal fees, IT services, and/or the purchase of credit monitoring services for employees or customers. As you can see, the total costs of a ransomware infection goes well above just the ransom fee itself, which is usually around $500 but can go up to $10,000. What it attacked Ransomware is a type of malware that infects a computer and restricts a user’s access to the infected computer. This type of malware...
Words: 2057 - Pages: 9
...Spyhunter - A Powerful Spyware Detection and Malware Removal Tool Download Button/TEXT The demanding virtual life has lead to several concerns worldwide such as identity theft, data theft, data corruption, financial loss and cyber crimes. For the internet savvy population in the world, it has now become must to secure their system and data beforehand. Malwares, Virus, Trojans, Browser Hijacker, Ransomware etc are few weapons used by hijackers and cyber criminal to trick users online. In order to prevent any loss of data, privacy, remote system control or data monitoring, users need to install an effective security software within their system. Spyhunter Malware Security Suite is a comprehensive and advanced spyware detection and malware...
Words: 648 - Pages: 3
...violating multiple computer ethics issues. I’ll be discussing cracking and privacy. Computer ethics is defined as a set of moral principles that regulate the use of computers (tech terms.com http://www.techterms.com/definition/computerethics). Cracking or hacking is trespassing on someone’s personal computer without permission or breaking into a computer for criminal gain. The crackers in this article broke into unsuspecting victims computers and installed ransomeware. Ransomwere is a form of malware restricting access to your infected computer system. The virus demands a ransom paid to the creator of the malware for it be removed (Microsoft.com http://www.microsoft.com/security/resources/ransomware-whatis.aspx). When a cracker criminally accesses your computer and infects it with ransomware it locks and owners are no longer able to access their computer or any files that were on the computer. The virus installed could be anything from pornography or fake threats from law enforcement such as the FBI or IRS. If your computer is sieged, a warning will appear on the monitor in the form of a ransom letter coaxing you to pay a hefty ransom. Users are told they must pay a ransom of usually more than $400 to have their computer unlocked. Unfortunately anywhere from 2.9% - 20% of users actually pay this ransom. Once the ransom is paid the computer remains locked and users will need to have the computer professionally wiped clean. In this case the user is out of the money paid...
Words: 556 - Pages: 3
...Items covered are what type of software each of these malicious codes is categorized as. What a botnet and ransomware are and how they can affect a system. The type of threats that Gameover ZeuS and Cryptolocker are categorized as, such as a confidentiality breach, integrity breach or an availability breach. Lastly the types of intervention and prevention that can be done to mitigate an attack, or prevent it in the first place. Tackling software such as these before being spread can mean the difference between hundreds and even thousands of dollars in damage. Gameover ZeuS and Cryptolocker Gameover ZeuS was what most would consider a really nasty Trojan horse. Thought to be created by Evgeniy M. Bogachev, a 30 year old man from Russia, the supposed ring leader of the whole operation. It is thought that the Trojan infected between 500,000 and one million computers, and syphoning over 100 million dollars into the attackers accounts. Gameover ZeuS was a Trojan that created a botnet and also carried another payload with it, Cryptolocker. Cryptolocker was a type of ransomware that prompted users to enter personal information and money to “remove” the virus (Herman, n.d.). How did these two pieces of software work together to cause so much chaos? We have established that Gameover ZeuS is a botnet and Cryptolocker is a ransomware, but what exactly is a botnet and ransomware? A botnet is best described by Margaret Rouse (2012), “...a number of internet computer that, although their...
Words: 1335 - Pages: 6
...150 word summary with insightful feedback Article # 4: ( Source from the Economist) Your money or your data; Ransomware With hackers running rampant today, more demands are given by them, now with old-fashioned ransoms. Computer users are now faced with a virus called “ransomware”, which gives users an option of either giving up their data or retrieving it with a fee. Ransomware isn’t likely to go away anytime soon, as new options of exchanging money are now on the internet, from companies such as bitcoin and Paypal, criminals might find them a haven to go to, as there can be anonymity and use of digital currency. Additionally, its programmers are always ahead since they are constantly modifying their code, which keeps them in an advantageous position, and unfortunately, not all their victims get a fair share, many have gotten a broken promise to ransomware’s demands. While this problem will persist, web-users must protect themselves with the best possible solutions to the attack of ransomware’s programmers. Words: 146 Feedback: Never start a sentence with "With". Your message appears unclear, it need adjustments. Instead of saying: "...which gives users an option of either giving up their data or retrieving it with a fee." You can say: Users are deceived into downloading a malicious software that hijacks storage files in their drive(s); prompting the hijacker(s) to demand a ransom before said files are released. Always create multiple drafts before...
Words: 302 - Pages: 2
...worldwide. This antivirus is able to detect all types of threats like viruses, rootkits, ransomware, spyware, and worms and can neutralize them. It also provides protection against evading detection of antivirus and illegitimate websites trying to access your sensitive information. ESET NOD32 Antivirus protects your PC by the following way; Safer Internet to Enjoy Antivirus and Antispyware protect against online and offline threats and prevents malware from spreading and Anti-Phishing protects your privacy from the attempts by fake websites to get access to your sensitive information like usernames, password or banking information etc. Exploit Blocker blocks attacks especially designed to evade antivirus detection and eliminates lock screen and ransomware. It also protects against attacks on web browsers, PDF readers and other applications, including Java-based software...
Words: 487 - Pages: 2
...Malware CMGT/230 January 11, 2016 Malware Today’s computer systems are exposed to numerous kinds of malware threats. The goal of malware is to enter the computer system in a hidden way. The main purpose of malware is achieving monetary gain at the expense of the victims. There are a few categories of malware: Adware, Bot, Bug, Ransomware, Rootkit, Spyware, Trojan Horse, Virus, and Worm. Each one of these types of malware has a specific function and effect on the end user’s computer system. Adware is an application that usually comes bundled with an application downloaded from the internet, in which it monitors the internet activity and provides advertisement according to the internet browsing behaviors. Bots are programs designed to run automated tasks. Bots gain popularity in being used on systems to run DDoS attacks. Bugs are flaws within the applications that an attacker can take advantage to exploit the computer system. Ransomware is an application that infects the computer system and encrypts files and holds the system hostage until the end user pays a fee for the unlocking mechanism. Rootkit is a malicious piece of software that is very stealth and allows the attacker to collect all kinds of information from the system and even remote control it. Spyware is related to Adware in which spies on the user’s activity without their knowledge and collects data such as keystrokes, logins, monitoring internet activity, etc. Trojan Horse is an application that disguises itself...
Words: 1143 - Pages: 5
...Healthcare firms will be more aggressive in their endeavor to educate their employees about issues such as password policies, access controls, and user authentication, and will have a no-tolerance policy when it comes to employees not adhering to such standards and requirements. Emergence of ransomware as of the biggest future threat for healthcare Attacks are no longer limited to basic security attacks such as structured query language (SQL) injection or domain name server (DNS) poisoning. Ransomware and phishing attacks are emerging as the biggest cause of concern for healthcare organizations. See Exhibit 4.1. Recommendations For a company to be truly secure, it must take a holistic view of security. Thus, our recommendations revolve around five central pillars of security: protection, detection, encryption, employee training, and incident response. Incident response teams, encryption techniques, and proper employee training can reduce the per-capita cost of a data breach by $16, $13, and $9 respectively . See Exhibit 1....
Words: 1491 - Pages: 6
...infrastructure defined in order to manage their data and services in a cloud environment. The organisation should have proper security measures in place in order to secure the data from different security threats in a virtualized environment. Even employers feel that the security products used in a cloud environment must safeguard the critical information must be upgraded regularly with the new enhanced security features. Ransomware Ransomware is a type of attack which blocks the access to very important data until some money is paid. This kind of attack encrypts important files, rendering data inaccessible until you pay the ransom. Therefore, one way to overcome such attacks is to pay the ransom if an application has been attacked. The next step would be to install anti-spyware software to block these viruses over the network. Ransomware has a very high impact to the loss of critical data on the network and it is considered to be one of the biggest threats to the cyber world in the near future. According to the group of Cyber Threat Alliance, a recent ransomware CryptoWall v3 was introduced into some social networking sites on the Internet and impacted the accounts of thousands of users worldwide. It has incurred a very big loss to the organisations worth $325 million due to the loss of data on the Internet. Spear Phishing Cybercriminals will follow their own principles and guidelines in order to hack the information on the network. The easiest way for them to gain access to...
Words: 2324 - Pages: 10
...Executive summary The organization information system is backbone of organizational operational and functional units, the malware can produce potential threat to organization image, the establishment of an effective security measures and reassessment of organizational risk management approaches in order to cater with latest implication trend in network security. This report is based on literature review, analytical analysis of case studies, news articles magazines to highlight vulnerability and implication of malware attack to an organization, highlights the salient features of malware attack, malware attacks that can significantly hurt an enterprise information system, leading to serious functional commotions, can result into destructing the basic IT security up to identity theft, leakage of data, stealing private information, corporate information system blue prints, industrial white papers and networks break down. The only constant in the world of technology is a change, report highlights the latest trends, dimension and implication of malware attack and new critical source of threats, within the perspective of constantly changing IT world (e.g. cloud services-integration) Enterprise may not effectively device and manage malware threat and 'risk assessment processes. This report highlight the malware propagation process, malware vulnerability, the types of malware, optimistic cost effective solution in order to minimize security risk for an Enterprise information...
Words: 3648 - Pages: 15
...Table of Contents 1. Back in the spring he began to limp. 2 2. At the clinic, I couldn’t stay quiet. 2 3. The injection was quick. 2 4. That night I heard a thump. 3 5. Evening shrouded the house in quiet. 4 6. One morning while my husband was away, I saw the blur racing through the yard. 4 7. That night, there came a rustling of the bedspread at my feet. 4 8. I decided it best to keep Buddy to myself. 5 9. Can’t you see? I asked. 5 10. It was then I knew I had no choice. 5 11. The earth turned three times and settled into darkness. 5 Works Cited 8 Jerome Solomon Instructor: M. Werner ENG 102 April 11, 2016 Beneath the Crape Myrtle Buddy is buried under the crape myrtle tree in the back yard. 1. Back in the spring he began to limp. He slipped when fetching his toy. He moaned when he lay down. In time, his groans turned to whimpers and I winced with his pain. He needs a doctor, my husband said. It’s time. 2. At the clinic, I couldn’t stay quiet. Twelve years, I said, twelve years he’s been a part of our family. Twelve years he’s been by our side. How can we do this? My husband shook his head. The doctor readied the needle. My heart fluttered like a bird in my throat. 3. The injection was quick. I caressed that spot behind his ear. Whispered my heart to him and kissed the place where his whiskers bristled from his nose. His breathing slowed from a quick pant to quieting heaves to nothing. I draped myself over his body...
Words: 1425 - Pages: 6
.................. 7 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 10 References .................................................................................................................................................. 11 1 Importance of IT Security Introduction For the business professional information technology (IT) security is of upmost importance. The reliance that companies have on information systems in conducting everyday business transactions has facilitated the need for increased security measures. The losses that a company can incur due to data breaches, denial of service attacks, malware, or ransomware can be devastating. This paper will highlight the different types of security breaches, the costs incurred due to cyber-crime, along with steps that a business professional can take to strengthen IT security. e-commerce Trends With the increased use...
Words: 1863 - Pages: 8
...the company will require a constant internet connection, this means that the company will have to keep a computer system and a router or modem running 24/7 in order to detect threats as soon as they appear on the server, this could save the company from further downtimes as the virus can be dealt with there and then and won’t have any effect on the company's files. I will now go on to recommend a few different pieces antivirus software: Avast Endpoint Protection Advanced: This software comes with many different features to help keep companies computer systems safe, these features are: antivirus, all the files on the computer will be actively scanned as well as different URLs and emails to keep the company safe from malware, spyware and ransomware. It comes with Cyber Capture which will take any unrecognized files and send them off to the threat labs where they will tell the user whether the file is safe to install. Behavior shield protects against pieces of malware that are deeply embedded into different programs, the software will monitor the malware and shut down any attacks they try to carry out on the system. A firewall is included that will block any hackers or viruses dead in their tracks and prevent them from accessing important files on the computer e.g. customer data etc. The smart scan for this application allows the user to combine antivirus, software updates, network security and performance scans into one. There is a Wi-Fi inspector where the user can find any problems...
Words: 1281 - Pages: 6
