Powerful computer virus could start emptying bank accounts in a fortnight...

[anuseems]

...unless Britons protect against attack now, National Crime Agency warns.

Computer users were last night warned to take urgent action to protect themselves from a global cyber virus pandemic.

Police across the globe launched an unprecedented attack on high-tech criminals behind software causing misery to millions.

The computers of more than 15,000 people in the UK are already infected with a virus that could cost our economy millions, the National Crime Agency (NCA) warned.

But the grip of those behind the so-called malware has been weakened by a counter attack on the servers which control the software.

Computer experts said computer users must install anti-virus software and update their operating systems to the latest versions to stop it regaining its hold.

Its not just computers, this kind of malware is now being hitting our mobile phones.

»http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2646537/Powerful-computer-virus-start-emptying-bank-accounts-fortnight-unless-Britons-protect-against-attack-National-Crime-Agency-warns.html

Computer experts said computer users must install anti-virus software and update their operating systems to the latest versions to stop it regaining its hold.

Updating to Windows 8 will save you?

Edited June 3, 2014 by anuseems

[Dodel]

I'm sorry, but upgrading to windows 8 will save you ??

Not sure if that's part of the story or an addition posted by the OP, however either way it's wrong & miss leading, are we now going to get a slew of people upgrading to Windows 8 thinking they can carry on surfing, clicking links and not worry about being infected, even it's not by this cryptolocker virus ? oh noes!

Scare mongering people isn't the answer, educating them IS, don't open ANY attachments, be it pdf, jpg, bmp, xls, doc, et cetera, even if you know the sender (it could be that the sender is infected), if you do get sent an attachment that you need to open, check with the sender before hand to ensure that they did indeed send you the attachment.

It's too late to unplug your network connection once your infected, as by the time you know your infected, your files are already encrypted (2048 RSA key, so little chance to decrypt, brute force) and your system has been scoured for useful information (including networked drives.)

If you need to keep anything important in digital format, keep on a USBstick, external HD that ISN'T always connected to your main workstation, that way if your files do get encrypted, you always have a backup which hasn't been touched (don't go bunging it into the infected PC / LAPTOP to recover though.)

Please also note, that the payload doesn't have to be delivered by email, it CAN also be done via drive by download, so check what your ticking in popup windows.

This little toolkit may help in the fight, but it's no replacement for common sense :- http://www.foolishit.com/posts/cryptolocker-prevention/

This is the article Mcafee prematurely announced, before it was taken down r.e this :- http://www.404techsupport.com/2014/05/mcafee-writes-about-operation-tovar-taking-a-swipe-at-cryptolocker-and-gameover-zeus/

Stay safes peoples.

Edited June 3, 2014 by Dodel

[iih1]

McAfee have a good reputation also as finder of new virus. as they have

discovered entitled "Postcard" virus and other new virus..see here

and McAfee discovers first Linux virus here

not sure no one guarantee by upgrading to windows 8 or 8.1 you will safe 100 percent

But sure you must spend $119.99 upgrading to windows 8.1 from windows 7 :unsure:

Edited June 3, 2014 by iih1

[Rok]

need 1005 surety, just keep your box inside a cupboard.....and Don't connect it to any means of connectivity......including internet, cd / dvd, usb etc. etc. etc. :P These people have plenty of time to get in to some absurd kind of research. However, they never suggests the remedy.

Edited June 3, 2014 by Rok

[MidnightDistortions]

I'm sorry, but upgrading to windows 8 will save you ??

Not sure if that's part of the story or an addition posted by the OP, however either way it's wrong & miss leading, are we now going to get a slew of people upgrading to Windows 8 thinking they can carry on surfing, clicking links and not worry about being infected, even it's not by this cryptolocker virus ? oh noes!

Scare mongering people isn't the answer, educating them IS, don't open ANY attachments, be it pdf, jpg, bmp, xls, doc, et cetera, even if you know the sender (it could be that the sender is infected), if you do get sent an attachment that you need to open, check with the sender before hand to ensure that they did indeed send you the attachment.

It's too late to unplug your network connection once your infected, as by the time you know your infected, your files are already encrypted (2048 RSA key, so little chance to decrypt, brute force) and your system has been scoured for useful information (including networked drives.)

If you need to keep anything important in digital format, keep on a USBstick, external HD that ISN'T always connected to your main workstation, that way if your files do get encrypted, you always have a backup which hasn't been touched (don't go bunging it into the infected PC / LAPTOP to recover though.)

Please also note, that the payload doesn't have to be delivered by email, it CAN also be done via drive by download, so check what your ticking in popup windows.

This little toolkit may help in the fight, but it's no replacement for common sense :- http://www.foolishit.com/posts/cryptolocker-prevention/

This is the article Mcafee prematurely announced, before it was taken down r.e this :- http://www.404techsupport.com/2014/05/mcafee-writes-about-operation-tovar-taking-a-swipe-at-cryptolocker-and-gameover-zeus/

Stay safes peoples.

I agree, it doesn't matter what OS you use. If your using XP if you're smart in keeping your security together you can still reduce the amount of problems. I wouldn't put bank accounts or credit card info on XP but banks need to properly defend themselves using AV software and a good OS and don't download anything sketchy like you said. I question the claims that W8 is as secure as people say they do. If it was i'd imagine XP would be patched up well enough for a few months until hackers find a way in, even then they generally would need a reason to (not all of them do, some of them just like screwing with people, making their lives difficult) but unless you're storing critically sensitive info taking the above precautions should be good enough. Certainly not the best if you are using an outdated system but at the same time, Windows 7 is vulnerable every month? I guess it keeps jobs, since people get paid for this but i don't pay people for just writing code that might not really be that beneficial. Then you have the recent problems when updating your system which i never had (or don't think i had) in the past are causing PC problems. Either they are writing code that restricts certain programs from operating correctly or they are writing random code that happens to cause instability. I don't know if this is true, i'm only speculating but it is a bit odd.

[Paft]

Going a little of topic, Dodel, you summed to 90% of news. Fear mongering.

[OrioNeXus]

we all need free inbulit sandboxie and antivirus