Anyone know what's going on and what they are and how bad? (nasties) Seems the authorities are worried.

 

http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA14-150A

 

http://krebsonsecurity.com/2014/06/operation-tovar-targets-gameover-zeus-botnet-cryptolocker-scourge/

It encrypts your hard drive and holds it to ransom.

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It encrypts your hard drive and holds it to ransom.

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ahhh, just like an Apple lol

ahhh, just like an Apple lol

No Apple would charge you to download the software, then encrypt your hard drive and hold it to ransom

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Nasty stuff

Nasty stuff

yeah, only caught the tail end of a report on the news earlier; looks like it's got a few people high up worried.

Because there are potentially more machines out there which are part of the bot net but not yet encrypted?

A work colleagues computer was on the receiving end of cryptolocker, easy enough to remove the virus but all files were corrupted. 

Just checked my spam folder and I have a lot of senders showing as "June 8th"

No idea anything else as I just bin them

I don't think it's actually all that bad. I've only read about it in the general press.

 

Little bit in the trade stuff - http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2014/06/03/has-cryptolocker-been-cracked-is-gameover-over/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nakedsecurity+%28Naked+Security+-+Sophos%29

 

Mostly about how the network has been cracked.

 

Cryptolocker etc has been an embarrassment in the US so they've expended quite a lot of effort into nailing the guys behind it.

Famous last words

 

http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/news-listings/386-two-week-opportunity-for-uk-to-reduce-threat-from-powerful-computer-attack

 

Basically the FBI etc took down a botnet for Cryptolocker. Tghey expect the network to come back up within two weeks so they are trying to get the masses to have a bit of a clean up while the CnC is out of commission.

 

When the CnC is running the malware can try to prevent it's removal by reinstalling or mutating. The CnC provides support for the program to do that. So right now it's easier to get rid of if you have it.

some tips from 'Auntie'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27681236

 

I use MSE + Windows firewall. Ran Spybot S&D and also MBam and, as expected, no infections found.

I'd add rogue kiler to the list, and buy a saecod Hard drive to save data to . Then take it out and if you get an attack, you just fornat and pee off crytolocker . 

Doesn't infect systems like mine!

Doesn't infect systems like mine!

What, a Mac? :P

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Doesn't infect systems like mine!

 

My home server is fine then - That's where all my files are stored.

"What, a Mac?  :p"

 

I've been using Linux since 1993.

 

In that time not a single Linux system anywhere has ever been the victim of a virus (I know that 'proof of concept' viruses have been produced - they just don't replicate in the real world).

 

Also, Linux is immune to the 'oops, I clicked on a downloaded file and it wasn't a picture like they said, it was a nasty program'.   In Linux whether a program runs is not down to the extension but to the 'execute' bits being set.  Going all the way back to the early unix days the default is to save files without these set.

 

I often see Windows users, when trying Linux, complain that they have to specifically change permissions to run downloaded files.  I sit back and relax, content that since Linux is a free implementation of unix - which was designed as a multiuser system from the word go  - security is designed in, not an add on.

Best one is...

 

"Why do I need to be a Super User to do anything - it's rubbish"

 

Then I explain why and they usually answer with "Ooohhh.. but do I need to enter a password?"   Erm yep...  you do.  It would kind of defeat the object if you didn't