14 DAY TRIAL // The CryptoLocker ransomware is currently one of the most widespread pieces of malware. In the UK, millions of computers have been infected with it, and in the US, even a police department’s files have been encrypted.
According to The Herald News, the victim is the Swansea Police Department. CryptoLocker encrypted their Word documents and image files.
They’ve agreed to pay the $750 (€555) to have the files decrypted. The ransom was paid in Bitcoins, the online currency that the Swansea Police Department apparently had never heard about.
In the United States, CryptoLocker is usually distributed with the aid of fake FedEx or UPS emails. Unfortunately, there’s still a large number of Internet users who don’t know much about online security and fall for it.
Authorities are urging victims to file a complaint, which means that the cybercriminal operation is being investigated. However, as we’ve learned from past cases, tracking down the culprits is not easy.