14 DAY TRIAL // Ransomware has become a major issue and experts believe that the cybercriminals that operate such threats can make millions of dollars each year by scaring unsuspecting internauts into paying so-called fines.
Security firm Bitdefender comes to their aid with a free tool that’s designed to remove pieces of ransomware powered by Trojan.Ransom.IcePol, also known as the “Piracy Trojan” or “Police Trojan.”
When it infects a computer, the malicious element locks the screen and displays a message, apparently on behalf of a local law enforcement agency, accusing the victims of software piracy. It instructs them to pay a certain amount of money in order to unlock the device.
This particular ransomware – Trojan.Ransom.IcePol – has been making the rounds in countries such as the US, the UK, Austria, Romania, Germany and the Netherlands.
In many cases, it’s not easy to remove such a threat and this is where the free tool made available by Bitdefender steps in. It allows even users who don’t possess advanced computer skills to wipe out the malware.
All they have to do is download the free removal tool and run it from the operating system’s Safe Mode. The application is easy to use and it’s capable of cleaning the device in seconds.
“The Piracy Trojan capitalizes on that same sudden jolt of fear people experience when they hear a police siren and see the flashing lights behind them as they’re being pulled over,” Bitdefender Chief Security Researcher Alexandru Bălan explained.
“The Trojan scans the victim’s IP address, tells him the message is from police, and then accuses him of an offense he very well may have committed without even knowing it. Unlike older ransomware threatening fines for [adult content], this particular Trojan focuses on copyright infringement. It’s highly effective.”
Trojan.Ransom.IcePol removal tool is available for download here