http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/524137/20131121/cryptolocker-ransomware-police-department-pays-bitcoin-ransom.htm
By MARY-ANN RUSSON
IBTimes.co.uk
November 21, 2013
A computer in the police department of Swansea, Massachusetts was hit by
the CryptoLocker ransomware on 6 November.
CryptoLocker is a particularly pernicious piece of malware that is
typically spread as a malicious attachment in emails which look to come
from financial institutions or postal services.
The malware infected the computer in the Swansea police department and
encrypted files on the PC's hard drive including "images and word
documents" which could include police reports and arrest photos of
suspects.
The police department clearly had no backup system in place as it paid the
ransom of two bitcoins, despite FBI guidance not to pay the
cyber-criminals behind the attack. At the time two bitcoins were worth
$750 but if the police had to pay up today, the price would be $1,300 as
bitcoin's vlaue has risen considerably in recent weeks.
[...]
--
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