Items tagged with ransomeware
Microsoft has announced that Office 365 has gained some new security features that are meant to help protect users from online threats. These new features will go along with the security features already integrated with Office 365, like link checking and attachment scanning for viruses and phishing threats. Office 365 also already encrypts information in transit and at rest. The advanced Office 365 Home and Office 365 Personal protection capabilities include the following: File recovery from malicious attacks like ransomware. Tools to help keep your information secure and private. Advanced protection...
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The hackers behind the WannaCry ransomware that became an overnight global scare did not strike it rich over their nefarious deeds, though they did make around $143,000 after cashing out all of the Bitcoin payments made by victims. Had it not been for the quick response of security researchers, and one in particular who accidentally discovered a kill switch of sorts, they might have made much more. Elliptic, a London-based start-up that aids law enforcement with tracking down cybercriminals that use Bitcoin, confirmed that the WannaCry withdrew 52.2 BTC from online wallets this week. Bitcoin currency...
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Businesses are having to contend with a lot more ransomware attacks than ever before. According to SonicWall's 2017 Annual Threat Report, there has been a meteoric rise in ransomware attacks in recent years, going from nearly 4 million attack attempts in 2015 to 638 million in 2016. That is a staggering 167x year-over-year increase with most of the attacks coming from phishing attempts. The good news for businesses is that security outfits are keeping pace with cybercriminals. SonicWall says it would be inaccurate to say that the threat landscape either diminished or expanded or in 2016, saying...
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Malware writers continue to find ways to make themselves out to be bigger scumbags than they already are. The latest dirty trick by the worst the web has to offer is a new twist on ransomware. Instead of simply encrypting the files on an infected PC and demanding a ransom in order to decrypt them, a variant called Popcorn Time encourages victims to infect others by offering a free key if they can get spread the ransomware to two other people.I wouldn't rank this as a new low in malware and its authors—that distinction belongs to the soulless jerks who injected a script into the Epilepsy Foundation's...
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A cloud security outfit is warning that a new ransomware strain called Stampado has emerged from the underground market and is wreaking havoc on systems. What makes Stampado stand out from the crowd is that it is available on the dark web for only $39 with a full lifetime license. That makes it one of the least expensive and most accessible ransomware strains out there.Don't be fooled by Stampado's low price tag, the ransomware strain is capable of doing big time damage. As is often the case with malware, Stamapado typically arrives on system through spam emails or drive by downloads. It installs...
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