Oh jeez now we've got ransomware

[catmandu57]

to be scared of. Someone is spreading a new trojan that freezes your computer then demands a ransom to unlock it. They give you instructions on sending 10.99 via western union or they delete a new file every halfhour until you pay them off.
There isn't any clear method of how this will infect you, so nothing is safe, goddamned lowlife scumsuckers if ever there was a crime that called for cruel and unusual punishment this is it.

[Catherine Vincent]

1. They can delete all my files. I don't care.

Paying $40 to send $10.99? Oh please!

[Warpy]

4. Mine too

I've had multiple puter disasters within the last 3 months and all my riles are now on CD. If they infect this machine, I'll just wipe the HD and reinstall the lot. Screw 'em.

Of course, I'm sure the FBI will have someone waiting for them when they pick up their $10.99, so this is not going to be a long lived scam.

[Don Claybrook]

2. Are you sure it's not McAfee or Norton?

Maybe they're just switching to direct-billing for their FUD services. :)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

Back up all your files now

and make ghost copies.

[kenny blankenship]

3. Oh I've heard of that. "AOL" isn't that what they call it?

[alfredo]

6. That's a variant that costs $21.95

[Warren DeMontague]

12. LOL.

Yeah, I tried to cancel an account with them once.

I've had stalker girlfriends that were easier to end my relationship with.

[leftofthedial]

5. Isn't that Microsoft Office?

[catmandu57]

7. Probably a combination of all

extortionists.

[niyad]

8. my computer genius said that one version of it is caused by clicking on

some sort of voting link, agreeing to allow the software to install. it cannot be uninstalled, essentially, although he managed by using something called "hijack this" (I think) in a very complicated procedure.

[TimeChaser]

9. So basically, don't click strange links,

right?

[blogslut]

10. Hijackthis is complicated?

Wow. I must be a genius :)

[skids]

11. Hrm, I always thought ransomware was...

"I wrote this program and as soon as I get X dollars from users, I'll release the sourcecode as freeware."

I guess if I ever do that I'll avoid calling it ransomware.