PandaLabs Spots a New Ransomware

A new ransomware is in circulation for trapping users into paying a handsome ransom for the sake of using a fraud version of the Microsoft's operating systems, claimed security experts at security firm, PandaLabs.

Through this scam, the victimized are extorted to pay a lofty ransom as the mail alleges the victim of using pirated version of Windows. In actuality, the user's computer is hacked while following unavoidable instructions through malicious e-mails or through peer-to-peer (P2P) networks.

To make the matter more credible to innocent recipients, the hackers even used Microsoft's logo and the notorious black screen used by Microsoft on forged copies of Windows that are caught while validating counterfeit software.

However, PandaLabs hold the view that the malware scam is primarily targeted to German-language speakers.

As claimed by PandaLabs, the scam notifies the victims that the authenticity of the Windows software can only be verified on payment of a fee of €100. This will address the problem at initial phase, which if not resolved will lock the IP address of the user and the case will be forwarded to the district attorney's office for prosecution of using illegitimate software.

In order to pay the ransom and take forward the resolution, the recipient is taken to a website for purchasing activation code and filling up a form with all necessary inputs on credit card. However, PandaLabs resorts that people using legit software need not be bothered by such accuses, though at the same time, security experts are quite apprehensive about few illegal users, reports ubergizmo on September 6, 2011.

However, while commenting on the aforementioned scam, Luis Corrons, Technical Director at Panda SecurityLabs claimed that this is definitely not the first case of such scam hitting Microsoft. Netizens should not be taken away by this trick and rather continue with their work without the fear of loosing information from their system, reports computerworld on September 6, 2011.

Furthermore, it is noticeable that the detection of such a malware was revealed only after security firm, F-Secure also reported of detecting a similar ransomware displaying a screen similar to Windows XP Activation requiring Windows license to be activated soon.

Related article: PandaLabs Report Discusses Movie Trojan and Other Worms

» SPAMfighter News - 9/16/2011