A new Ransomware, called Kovter, has become sneaky in hackers' efforts to steal money from you. It uses browser history to provide credibility to the crime.
Ransomware is a special type of malicious application that is designed to extort money from users. It threatens to encrypt personal files making them unavailable to the user or disables important functionality.
This new variant will change the verbiage in the message to make it seem as if the message is from the US Department of Justice, Homeland Security, or the FBI. It states the computer has been locked because he or she has accessed or downloaded supposedly illegal content. Even more disturbing is that it is made to seem more credible by listing a website the user already visited.
If no site on the malware's list is already in the browser history, it will display something from a list of known porn sites. In some cases, the malware will even use the installed camera on the computer to take a photo of the user. This is intended to make it seem as if law enforcement is watching the victim.
Security professionals advise never giving any money to the criminals. Instead, find another solution by using an unaffected computer. Antivirus companies provide free utilities and information to help users eradicate such issues. If necessary, take the system to a technical support professional for assistance. In any case, be patient and never fund this type of extortion.
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