bmac32 Loc: West Florida

The FBI is warning about a new wave of s**ms known as "ransomware," because rather than asking you for money, they threaten you.

They tell you your computer will be permanently locked up, or you may even be arrested, if you don't pay a $200 fine through Pay Pal or a Green Dot Money Card.

Screen Suddenly Locks Up

Jennifer Werner sat down at her PC and couldn't believe what she was seeing: a web page she had never seen before had taken over her computer.

"I walked in and saw a screen up on the computer, and it had the FBI logo," she said, "and I thought someone in the house had done something wrong or by accident."

The FBI alert stated that she had visited an illegal website, and as a result was being locked out of her web access.

To unlock it, it told her to pay a $200 fine.

Werner said "they wanted money. They wanted a $200 Green Dot Money Pack card to unblock your computer."

Online Extortion, or "Ransomware"

She got suspicious: Send the fine by reloadable debit card from a drugstore?

She realized then it was a new type of online extortion, a v***s known as "ransomware." It is downloaded when you click on a questionable website or email.

In some cases it uses your webcam to take a picture of you and display it back to you: That's even more scary.

So Werner and her husband searched on their smartphones for a way to remove it, and found a number of webpages on Google for removing what's called the "FBI Green Dot Moneypack V***s."

"I hit the reboot button," Dan Werner explained. " I hit F12, went to the reboot screen, and followed instructions to do a self clean, a system restore."

If this happens to you, search on another computer or phone for the fix. Or call a computer repair shop.

Jennifer's just glad she didn't pay the ransom.

FBI Warns About More S**ms

Since we first spoke with Jennifer back in February 2013, the FBI says these s**ms have gotten even more sophisticated.

Some threaten arrest, or utility disconnect.

Another has the potential to permanently disable your computer. It is known as the Cryptolocker PC v***s.

Bottom line: Assume any email or online notice from the government is a s**m, especially if it doesn't include your name specifically in the notice.

The FBI, IRS, or other agencies will not e-mail you: They will write or show up with a knock on your door.

So never wire money, or pay by Pay Pal or Green Dot card to a threat.

That way you don't waste your money.
____________________

rumitoid

Good warning, but this has been going of for at least four years that I know of. There is a spyware that removes this v***s but many suspect it is in cahoot with those locking up your screen. The price is like 50 bucks.

faithistheword

Why don't these evil geniuses put their talents to good use?

rumitoid

Good point. The same is true of many of those who go to prison and become quite ingenious to get their goodies. Many of these types could be successful entrepenuers, if in any way inclined toward decency.

bmac32 Loc: West Florida

Yep I know it's old but new variations make it new to some or old spyware software and many think v***s protection will save them. Have saved 8 computers since Aug with this crap, people think their computer is toast.

rumitoid

Do you use that program suggested when you key in FBI s**m or something else?

Floyd Brown Loc: Milwaukee WI

There is no end of ways people will find to get your money.

bmac32 Loc: West Florida

A honeypot as the first line of defense.
http://www.infoworld.com/d/security-central/intrusion-detection-honeypots-simplify-network-security-165

Then a good v***s protection (AVA or Avast are free) and then Secunia PSI to keep everything updated.

bmac32 Loc: West Florida

Because it's easier to steal from you than work. About a billion stolen that's never reported from people like you and me.