Sheriffs Office Pays Bitcoin Ransom to Access Their Own Files

[iOWNme]

Sheriffs Office Pays Bitcoin Ransom to Access Their Own Files

http://nypost.com/2014/11/13/sheriffs-office-pays-500-bitcoin-ransom-to-access-their-own-files/



DICKSON, Tenn. — The Dickson County Sheriff’s Office in Middle Tennessee ended up paying a ransom after a malicious computer program blocked access to their files.

Detective Jeff McCliss told WTVF-TV (http://bit.ly/110rFVL) that malware on a computer locked the agency’s case files, which included autopsy reports, witness statements and crime scene photos. He says the malware, called “Cryptowall,” doesn’t tamper with files on a computer, but keeps them locked until a ransom is paid.


After consulting with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the FBI, McCliss said the agency determined the only way to get their files back was to pay the asking price: $500 in bitcoins.

Officials think the malware came from an ad someone in the department clicked on. McCliss says it doesn’t appear that the office was targeted.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8YVZj6Navw

[crimethink]

What's the matter, piggies don't like "Civil Asset Forfeiture" in reverse? LOL

[Ponce]

Now, if the cops guns would only explode in their hand when they try to shoot someone then all would be perfect........

V

[iOWNme]

What's the matter, piggies don't like "Civil Asset Forfeiture" in reverse? LOL

Especially not by 'Anarchists'. LOL

[madfranks]

I've heard of that malware before, if you don't pay the bitcoin in a certain amount of time, everything is erased. Now, I really wish that the people at the cops office were too dumb to figure out how to get bitcoin, and watched all their files go *poof*.

[crimethink]

I've heard of that malware before, if you don't pay the bitcoin in a certain amount of time, everything is erased. Now, I really wish that the people at the cops office were too dumb to figure out how to get bitcoin, and watched all their files go *poof*.

A variant of this malware is out there that takes your money and doesn't release the lock anyway. No recourse, of course.

[Glass]

yes I've encountered this three times. There are a few variants. I've seen one outfit lose everything. One lose half and the last one nothing.

I would be sacking the IT people because there are tools that you can install which block it. Be proactive and get it installed on the PC's and you are done. I think most of these come in of the google Ad networks. That seems to be where most of the trojans, malware and rootkits are coming from. Popup ads and Ad networks run by google. Infected banner Ads and so on.

I wonder if they got the child porn one? Crypto locker that is.

[mick silver]

http://www.thedailybell.com/images/library/beware150.jpg

[Hatha Sunahara]

I just fixed a computer that got this crypto-virus. The computer belonged to a friend who treated the infection as if it were ebola. There was nothing Icould do to resurrect the files that were encrypted, and my friend refused to pay the ransom. So, I copied all the encrypted files to a seperate disk, and reinstalled the operating system, and ran a virus scan on everything just to make sure the virus was detected and contained. My solution/prevention for this problem is to use Kubuntu Linux, My friend is a die-hard windows user however.



Hatha

[crimethink]

My solution/prevention for this problem is to use Kubuntu Linux

Or at least run a decent anti-virus, like Avast!, along with an active anti-malware, like MBAM Pro/Premium (not the free version).

[BrewTech]

Or at least run a decent anti-virus, like Avast!, along with an active anti-malware, like MBAM Pro/Premium (not the free version).

Your business wouldn't be slinging antivirus software, would it?

:)

[crimethink]

Your business wouldn't be slinging antivirus software, would it?

:)

I only endorse the free version of Avast! And I encourage people to seek out the few remaining one-time-pay lifetime licenses for MBAM Pro. :) (they switched to an annual subscription this year, but lifetime licenses will grandfather, if you can find one - about $25 on eBay).

No one should ever pay for anti-virus software. Avast!, Avira, and AVG are all free and all work well. Kaspersky is great, but only worth it if FAR ("free after rebate"). Never use McAfee, and avoid Norton...and again, I emphasize, never pay, only use payware if FAR.

As for MBAM, the active version is especially great if you use BitTorrent. The free version is good for finding and removing malware/crapware, but only after it gets in. The active version will block it altogether.