"an e-mail with attachment arrives and when open the attachment the computer opened on will be under the control of this gang...  I have not opened any such e-mails or attachments". Using "common sense" ("safe surfing") goes a long way toward prevention.  Never open up a suspicious attachment.   In fact, even attachments from known friends/relatives have the potential for danger, in that their e-mail could have been hacked or even forged!   So we always need to be on our toes... even when opening "friendly" e-mails. One thing that could help:   Opening attachments inside Sandboxie.   In theory, if anything malicious is opened and run, it should be trapped inside the sandbox, and then easily discarded simply by closing the sandbox. ------------------------------ As for ransomware, one of the most dangerous is CryptoLocker.   Fortunately, there's a program I've been following in this forum called CryptoPrevent, which easily blocks known versions of Cryptolocker.   If you haven't looked into it, you should read my long/ongoing thread here:  [URL] The [FREE] program can be downloaded from  CryptoPrevent   [URL]  (scroll to the bottom of the page for the download links).   Manually check for updates "occasionally".  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- As for how to test your system for these infections [other than saying, if CryptoLocker had completed its task, you'd definitely know, as it would prompt you for a ransom], I don't have a definitive answer... perhaps someone else might be able to tackle that.
Hello, Just on the Channel 4 news here in UK (TV) informs of a major Russian based computer malware causing over half a billion pounds either stolen or taken away as ransom after taking over control of computers either home or businesses. I am naturally very concerned after listening to the following. Cyber crime expert Don Smith shows Channel 4 News how criminals remotely get into your computer ("they almost certainly have better access to your computer than you do") in order to steal "hard cash. I do not know if you could watch the above from out side UK. However as I understood from the news discussion that an e-mail with attachment arrives and when open the attachment the computer opened on will be under the control of this gang. It goes on to inform how they ask ransom to access to folders on that computer, able to watch the user by remotely accessing their camera ect. I have not opened any such e-mails or attachments. But naturally very concerned if I am a victim? I am running my free version of the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. I have regularly updated MS Security Essentials. Is there any other techniques I need to do to see if mine is infected or free from an attack? Thank you for your input, in advance I wish to say. Regards
Russian malware?