Ransomware Used to Exploit Logo of ‘Malta Police Force’

According to a warning by Malta's Police Force, one PC malware that has been named "Malta Police Force Virus" or "Police Ransomware" is misappropriating the logo of Malta Police Force in a malicious campaign, thus published Gozo News dated October 6, 2013.

Apparently, as the 'police ransomware' malware infects a computer, an alert message pops up asserting it was necessary to suspend the user's PC owing to illegal cyber activity. However, for unlocking the device, the user needs to pay a fine. This is when the victimized computer owner would find all his folders and files inaccessible as well as making the ransom payment doesn't bring back the system like before, said Malta Police. Gozo News reported this dated October 6, 2013.

Moreover, as per Malta's Police Force, there is never a fine collection via the way described above by any agency of law enforcement, meaning the Malta Cops too. Therefore, the message popping up asserting it is from Malta Cops is fraudulent and end-users infected with 'police ransomware' mustn't make any payment whatsoever as demanded.

The Malta Cops further said that anybody tricked effectively enough to make him send the ransom sum must report to police giving the maximum possible information along with the pop up's screenshot, details about the payment, and the time along with date of the incident.

However, it is possible to remove the virus.

To do it manually, an end-user needs to first take his computer to "safe mode" and boot the PC device. The boot links can be viewed with 'F8' on the keyboard, where by highlighting "safe mode" followed with hitting on 'Enter," the affected PC can start within 'safe mode.'

After this, by opening 'Task Manager,' the 'Processes' option should be clicked to deactivate all related processes. Subsequently, all files connected to the virus as well as concealed inside 'System files' directory should be deleted followed with cleansing 'Windows Registry' off all malevolent entries. Eventually, the PC device should be restarted within "normal mode" and anti-virus software on the machine should be updated to execute one thorough system scan, Malta Cops suggests.

» SPAMfighter News - 10/17/2013