 Devious
Arhiveus ransomware kidnaps data from victims' computers
Sophos experts reveal password used in criminal attack
Experts at SophosLabs™, Sophos's global network of virus, spyware
and spam analysis centers, have warned users about a Trojan horse that
encrypts victims' computer data, and then attempts to force users into
making a purchase from an online pharmacy.
The Troj/Arhiveus-A Trojan horse (also known
as MayAlert) scoops up files in innocent users' "My Documents"
folder and creates a file called EncryptedFiles.als
Sophos notes that this is not the first example of ransomware. In March
2006, the Zippo Trojan horse demanded $300 for the safe return of users'
encrypted data. The following month the Ransom-A Trojan horse threatened
to delete stolen files one-by-one until a ransom was paid.
You can read more about this trojan, how to combat it, and obtain the
password if you've already been hit, by visiting the Sophos
AntiVirus website
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