CryptoLocker

Posted by Max Lehmann on January 10, 2014

What is CryptoLocker?

CryptoLocker is one of the most clandestine infections you may discover running on your operating Windows system. The malicious threat can corrupt your personal computer if certain security cracks are discovered by cyber criminals. Social engineering scams, misleading advertisements, bundled downloads and other vulnerabilities could be used to drop the threat without any of your knowledge. Nonetheless, the threat is usually distributed with the help of infected PDF attachments within spam emails. It has been noticed that the names of UPS, FedEx and other trusted companies could be used to trick you into opening these emails and their attachments.

Anti-Spyware-101.com researchers categorize the infection as a ransomware because it corrupts your operating system in the hopes of generating profit. Unfortunately, if you remove CryptoLocker from the system, there is a great chance that most files on the computer will be encrypted for good. So, what should you do to delete malware, to beat the devious ransomware and to ensure that your operating Windows system is not vulnerable in the future?

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How does CryptoLocker work?

MoneyPak, Paysafecard, Ukash, CashU and Bitcoin are the money transfer systems which are used by the malicious CryptoLocker to collect the requested ransom fees. Even though these systems have been used by Australian Federal Police Ukash Virus, Central Security Service Virus, Cyber Command of Arizona Virus, and other malignant ransomware threats, you are now dealing with a much more knavish threat. It does not attempt to fool you into thinking that you need to pay the requested fee for any legal purposes. It bluntly orders you to pay $100/300 or €100/300 and warns you that if you do not follow these demands, photos, videos, documents and other files on your computer will be encrypted. Even though they will not be removed/deleted, you will not be able to use them either. Please see a few extracts from the intimidating CryptoLocker notification:

Your personal files are encrypted!
Your important files encryption produced on this computer: photos, videos, documents, etc. Here is a complete list of encrypted files, and you can personally verify this. […] To decrypt files you need to obtain the private key.

Any attempt to remove or damage this software will lead to the immediate destruction of the private key by server.

Depending on the CryptoLocker version, you are given 72 or 96 hours to pay the requested sum of money; however, this is not what you should perform without further consideration. The more money is paid to the schemers behind the infection, the greater chances arise for them. According to the recent data, the infection which has been active since September of 2013 has already generated at least 27 million USD. However, the clandestine threat is capable of encrypting Microsoft Office documents, OpenDocument files, pictures, AutoCAD files and other data, which is why people pay the fees and which is why schemers are thriving. If you do not want to aid schemers in their devious attacks, we suggest you do not support them financially by paying the demanded MoneyPak, Ukash, Bitcoin, Paysafecard and CashU payments.

How to protect your operating system?

Once the clandestine ransomware infects your computer and you are twisting your head thinking how to remove CryptoLocker without causing damage to your own files, you need to act quickly. Security experts recommend that you immediately disconnect your personal computer from the Internet, so that cyber criminals could not create a direct connection. This may stop the encryption of more computer files. You then need to check the list of the encrypted files. If you have backed up these files or if you do not mind having them deleted, you should delete CryptoLocker without any fear. In order to prevent the infection from attacking your personal computer in the future you need to take the necessary security measures. First of all, you need to beware of the corrupted spam emails and other security vulnerabilities which could be used to infect the operating system. You also should acquire reliable malware detection and removal software to ensure that your operating system is secured against virtual risks reliably.