Ransomeware Malware

I just now read an e-mail from a PC business in my area dated Jan. 31, 2015. Info below. Anyone familiar with this or have heard about it?

A new form of malware called RANSOMEWARE is the most deadly of computer infections.
Ransomware affects your FILES, not the Windows operating system. Once on your computer
it encrypts your files so they are not accessible and you have to pay money to the hacker to
get your files. While we can remove the virus, we cannot gain access to the files, so
data is lost. Make sure to backup your files.

Of course! And the people who pay them to gain access to their files (because they themselves lacked the foresight to back them up) encourage these bandits to keep going. Basically, they pay them indirectly to harm thousands of businesses and people because they had irreplaceable files that weren't saved elsewhere.
It is a pet peeve of mine lol.

Also, be careful what emails you're opening, that one seems suspicious (why would a business care to send that to you, unless they wanted your business).

Juliet68 said:

I just now read an e-mail from a PC business in my area dated Jan. 31, 2015. Info below. Anyone familiar with this or have heard about it?

A new form of malware called RANSOMEWARE is the most deadly of computer infections.
Ransomware affects your FILES, not the Windows operating system. Once on your computer
it encrypts your files so they are not accessible and you have to pay money to the hacker to
get your files. While we can remove the virus, we cannot gain access to the files, so
data is lost. Make sure to backup your files.

Click to expand...

News flash: that's been going on for years now.

Previous discussions.


http://www.eightforums.com/gtsearch...205v6qk06j2&cof=FORID:9&ie=UTF-8&q=ransomware

One of the ways you can safeguard yourself against this is to make a System Image. Make regular backups. Keep it on a external HD & keep 3 or 4 copies in case you inadvertently make an image with malware.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/8956-system-image-create-windows-8-a.html