14 DAY TRIAL // Ransomware has become a major issue in most countries, many users reporting to have paid so-called fines to have their computers unlocked. As it turns out, cybercriminals have even adapted their schemes for targeting Gaeilge (Irish) speakers.
Users from Donegal – a county in Ireland – have begun complaining to computer technicians that their devices have been locked. Apparently, a message in Irish informs the victim that he/she must pay 100 EUR ($127) in order to have the computer unlocked, Irish Times informs.
Similar to other incidents that involve ransomware, the fine must be paid because the user has been identified as accessing illegal content. Also, the name and reputation of a government agency are leveraged to ensure the success of the operation.
On the other hand, unlike other campaigns, even if the victim pays the fine, the computer will still remain locked.
However, cybercriminals haven’t started learning foreign languages just to make their campaigns more successful. They simply took the classic message and translated it using an online translator (most likely Google Translate).
According to Brian McGarvey, a technician at Techie2u Computers Repairs, who analyzed some of the infected computers, the malicious element is sophisticated and it could easily fool anyone who doesn’t speak Irish well. On the other hand, McGarvey says that only around 60% of the message “makes sense.”
This is not the first time we hear of ransomware in Ireland, but on previous occasions the cybercrooks didn’t bother to translate their warnings.
We will take this opportunity to once again highlight the fact that users should never pay up when threatened in such a manner. Most of these ransomware infections can be removed by professionals and it will probably cost you less than the ransom demanded by the crooks.
Furthermore, once they see that you are willing to pay up without hesitation, you will most likely be placed on the “top victims” list for future cybercriminal campaigns.