Ransomware Attack Holds Mandurah Quay Resort Hostage

Security officials have asked businesses that they should make their security software up-to-date ever-since one malware-tainted e-mail is taking recipients onto Western Australia's Mandurah Quay Resort that cyber-criminals have taken hostage till it pays a ransom, reported mandurahmail.com.au dated August 4, 2015.

Originally, malware had infected the main server of the resort sent over e-mail to the A/Cs department.

According to Tanya McFarlane Manager of Mandurah Quay Resort, the attack resulted in the company's computer system getting locked and inaccessible for a whole 5-day period. Mandurahmail.com.au reported this.

Ms. McFarlane said all virus scans with the company had been run which revealed the problem as so big that the company alone couldn't tackle it. So they called their IT professionals who showed that the attackers were demanding a ransom from the resort.

Subsequently, an e-mail arrived at the company that had a timer showing the countdown for the payment deadline. The message said that the money should be paid through the digital currency Bitcoin and before or on the specified time otherwise it would double.

Further according to Ms. McFarlane, the miscreants remained waiting till they got the sum to then send the decryption key which Mandurah ran through its systems. It was determined that around 16,000 files had become tainted, and a full day-and-more was spent in cleansing the entire network.

Gary Newcombe Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection explained that the particular form of malicious program called "ransomware" in particular posed danger to businesses as well as people whose computers were utilized for business. Mandurahmail.com.au reported this.

Thus, for remaining safe from such ransomware attacks, it's advised that a reputable organization's firewall and anti-virus software be installed while ensuring they're updated constantly; pop-up blockers be enabled so whenever there's any accidental click, the resultant pop-ups may get stopped; file back-ups be maintained so if a whole PC is formatted for clean-up, the back-up files can be reloaded; during any alert message of an infection or ransomware pop-up appearing, the system must be instantly taken offline for eschewing further virus contaminations/data leakage; and any unrecognizable e-mail else attachment should be avoided clicking, while suspicious websites avoided.

» SPAMfighter News - 8/14/2015