Tag Archives: ransomware

San Francisco’s Muni transit system ransomware

The ransomware attacker is said to be demanding $73,000.

San Francisco’s Muni transit system ransomware

Credit: Michael Kan

San Francisco’s Muni transit system was reportedly hit by ransomware since Friday, leading to the message “You Hacked, ALL Data Encrypted” being displayed on the computer screens at stations, according to newspaper reports.

The message asked that cryptom27 at yandex.com should be contacted for the key to unlock the data.

Ransomware and scammy tech support sites team up for a vicious one-two punch

One holds your files hostage, the other overcharges to fix nonexistent computer problems.

Credit: Symantec
Symantec has seen a curious fusing of two pernicious online threats, which would cause a big headache if encountered by users.

Some websites offering questionable tech support services are also dishing up ransomware, which locks up a users files until they pay a fee to decrypt them.

Ransomware authors streamline attacks, infections rise

Ransomware

Ransomware authors continue improving file-encrypting programs and infection methods for Windows and Android, making these nightmarish attacks harder to avoid.

The biggest ransomware threat for Windows users is CryptoWall, a sophisticated malware program that encrypts a wide range of files and demands that victims pay a ransom in Bitcoin cryptocurrency to recover them.

Malicious advertisements on major websites lead to ransomware

Malicious advertisements on domains belonging to Disney, Facebook, The Guardian newspaper and others are leading people to malware that encrypts a computer’s files until a ransom is paid, Cisco Systems has found.