CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Watch out! There’s a new computer virus you need to know about. Β It steals your files and makes you pay hundreds of dollars to get it back.
This new virus is called Crypto Locker. Β It looks like its from an official company, like your bank or Fedex, etc. Β Then it sends an email asking you to click on a link, but beware!
Once you do this, the virus automatically begins downloading onto your computer; encrypting all of your files says Firefold Server Administrator Danial Bulloch, “There’s no way for a tech like myself to recover that. It’s very dangerous.”
JCSU student, James Jeffrey says if a virus hit his computer it would ruin his life, “I could lose all the music I’ve made. I could lose a bunch of projects a bunch of pictures, important emails.”
The only way you can get your information back is by paying the thieves three hundred dollars. They tell you to use a Moneypak, which is a re-loadable debit card says Bulloch, “So you give them the 300 dollars and they do actually un-encrypt your files.”
Filtering your spam email can keep the malware out of your in box. Β Keeping your software updated can also help protect you from what Bulloch calls a cat and mouse game, “The antivirus systems update they now catch the malware. Well the malware changes a little bit and the anti virus doesn’t catch it anymore.”
