New Ransomware will unlock your files for free -- if you infect others (and at least two pay up)

[Jim K Global Moderator]

Quote

Is your PC infected with Ransomware? Either pay the ransom amount to the attacker or spread the infection further to get the decryption keys.

Yes, this new technique has been employed by cyber criminals with the latest round of ransomware threat, dubbed Popcorn Time.

Initially discovered by MalwareHunterTeam, the new Popcorn Time Ransomware has been designed to give the victim's a criminal way of getting a free decryption key for their encrypted files and folders.

Popcorn Time works similar to other popular ransomware threats, such as the Crysis Ransomware and TeslaCrypt, that encrypt various data stored on the infected computer and ask victims to pay a ransom amount to recover their data.

But to get their important files back, Popcorn Time gives victims option to pay a ransom to the cyber criminal or infect two other people and have them pay the ransom to get a free decryption key.

What's even worse? The victims are encouraged to pay the ransom of 1 Bitcoin (~$750) within seven days to receive decryption keys stored on a remote server owned by Popcorn Time's developers.

 

If the ransom is not paid within this duration, the decryption key will be permanently deleted and retrieve important files will become impossible.

Moreover, the code of the ransomware is incomplete that may indicate that if victims enter the wrong decryption key four times, the Popcorn Time ransomware will start deleting victims' files.

 

/snip

Full Article at TheHackerNews

[LimeMaster]

Their reasoning for designing the ransomware is stupid. I'm sure their family would not agree with their actions if they were still around.

 

Also, most people probably would not be willing to infect others.

[Hum]

Ransomware -- Hah.

 

Bring it on bitch -- I am armored to the hilt

[Circaflex]

8 minutes ago, Hum said:

Ransomware -- Hah.

 

Bring it on bitch -- I am armored to the hilt

Unless of course I send you Firefox-patch.js 

[Tomoko]

I'm not sure how anyone even gets infected with this stuff in the first place, but do people just not back up their files at all? What if their hard drive fails? If you have important stuff on your computer you don't want to lose it's really stupid to not have it backed up.

[TAZMINATOR]

5 hours ago, Rigby said:

I'm not sure how anyone even gets infected with this stuff in the first place, but do people just not back up their files at all? What if their hard drive fails? If you have important stuff on your computer you don't want to lose it's really stupid to not have it backed up.

Because some people don't read the manual or take the computer class... they have no idea what to do with it... except turning it on or off. That's why they usually get infected. 

 

If they take class or read the manual, they won't have this problem.

 

Of course friends or family member teach others on what to do or don't.