Ransomware gets smarter

El Reg writes:

Devious virus writers have come up with a new twist on ransomware-style malware.

A new strain of Trojan encrypts recently-opened files on compromised Windows PCs. But instead of demanding a ransom for a decryption key to unlock files, the malware relies on users to search the web for a possible way-out.

Hackers have cleverly baited searches for likely terms, with links to sites offering a supposed fix actually developed by the crooks behind the ruse.

A fuller explanation of the scam can be found Symantec’s write-up on the Ramvicrype Trojan here and in a blog posting by Symantec researcher Shunichi Imano here. ®

Say what you will about the data-centric approach of The New School of Information Security, there’s one fact that’s undeniable: money drives malware in the 21st century, and they’re getting smarter and smarter about how they take it.