Sneaky Blackmailing Virus That Encrypts Data

[w1z4rd]

"Kaspersky Lab found a new variant of Gpcode which encrypts files with various extensions using an RSA encryption algorithm with a 1024-bit key. After Gpcode.ak encrypts files on the victim machine, it changes the extension of these files to ._CRYPT and places a text file named !_READ_ME_!.txt in the same folder. In the text file the criminal tells the victims that the file has been encrypted and offers to sell them a decryptor. Is this a look into the future where the majority of malware will function based on extortion?"

http://www.net-security.org/malware_news.php?id=945

 

[Telkomisaloser]

That's just plain nasty

/me wonders when the decryptor will be available free online... No one selling software products is safe online

 

[cyberarmy]

This is nothing new and Kaspersky's antivirus used to be able to decode the encrypted files, until the criminals decided to use much high level of encryption.