Hijacked PC's Being Held For Ransom

[Atrocities]

A new type of Internet extortion crime, where a hacker encrypts the data belonging to an individual. This can be accomplished by (for example) attaching a specially crafted file/program to an E-mail message and sending this to the victim. If the victim opens/executes the attachment, the program encrypts a number of files on the victim's computer. A ransom note is then left behind for the victim. The victim will be unable to open the encrypted files without the correct decryption keys. Once the ransom demanded in the ransom note is paid, the hacker will (supposedly) send the decryption keys, enabling decryption of the "kidnapped" files.

"This is equivalent to someone coming into your home, putting your valuables in a safe and not telling you the combination," said Oliver Friedrichs, a security manager for Symantec Corp.[1]

As of May 2005, this type of attack appears to be isolated, but experts fear that as time goes on, hackers will perfect techniques and make it a more common appearance on the Internet.