Ransomware Imitates IC3 Warned FBI

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched many alerts to warn Internauts about ransomware that relies on authentic names related to law enforcement agencies and provoke people to pay. The recent version also employs the name of the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

IC3 is a joint collaboration between the FBI and the national white collar crime center.

Citadel malware are used by cybercriminals to circulate the Reveton ransomware that are similar to the malware involved in this spam.

Nevertheless, this latest type that controls the image of IC3, doesn't only terrorize victims, but it also notifies them that their computer activity is recorded through audio and video devices. In order to sound more genuine, microphone and webcam is displayed on the lock screen.

The users are told to compensate a fine that uses prepaid money card services to unlock the computer. The geographic site of the user's PC determines the services of payment offered. Along with the ransomware, the citadel malware keeps on executing on the infected computer and can be employed to undergo online deception of banking and credit cards.

This kind of communication from the IC3 is not genuine; rather it is a technique to extort money from the victims.

According to Kevin Haley, Director of Symantec Security Response, considering the 16 gangs presently activated towards dispersing ransomware, it has been noticed that innumerable methods are employed to infect users, as published by eweek.com on 4 December, 2012. This threat had been much into limelight during May 2011. However, of recent, it has been observed that the circulation of malware has increased much of recent and become international.

Haley further claimed that it is particularly effective as the recent exploit kit and social engineering tricks are quicker to execute.

While scrutinizing the matter, Haley further claimed that as cyber crime scams most likely like the traditional crime have their own shelf life, people much easily forgets them after some time and show a casual attitude. To explain the instant, fake AV was quite a viable money-maker for cybercriminals for some time, but it has started to fade gradually now. It now seems that ransomware might be the next happening scams.

Related article: Ransomware Trojan Asks for $300 for Giving User Data Back

» SPAMfighter News - 12/12/2012