A new type of malware infects PCs using file-share sites and publishes the user's net history on a public website before demanding a fee for its removal.
The Japanese trojan virus installs itself on computers using a popular file-share service called Winni, used by up to 200m people.
Masquerading as a game installation screen, it requests the PC owner's personal details.
It then takes screengrabs of the user's web history and publishes it online in their name, before sending an e-mail or pop-up screen demanding a credit card payment of 1500 yen (£10) to "settle your violation of copyright law" and remove the webpage.
weeks
1:03 pm on Apr 16, 2010 (gmt 0)
Yikes! Then everyone here would know I'm Bill Gates.
StoutFiles
1:22 pm on Apr 16, 2010 (gmt 0)
Yikes! Then everyone here would know I'm Steve Jobs.
Old_Honky
1:24 pm on Apr 16, 2010 (gmt 0)
Yikes! Then everyone would be bored silly.
Webwork
2:15 pm on Apr 16, 2010 (gmt 0)
One more blow to John Doe's already sullied reputation.
What more, John Doe?! What more!
tonynoriega
2:55 pm on Apr 16, 2010 (gmt 0)
Yikes! Then everyone would know im Ron Jeremy.
Strapworks
3:47 pm on Apr 16, 2010 (gmt 0)
Yikes! Then everyone would know im your MOM!
engine
4:00 pm on Apr 16, 2010 (gmt 0)
Yikes! Just Yikes!
From a privacy point of view, this is just awful, not to mention the extortion.
outland88
6:06 pm on Apr 16, 2010 (gmt 0)
Reading that article it seems that the virus is targeting illegal download sites and the people that use them. Maybe we need more viruses like this.
tkwg
7:00 pm on Apr 16, 2010 (gmt 0)
Yeah outland, because mass extortion isn't a criminal offense punishable by jail time at all! /sarcasm
Fribble
2:58 am on Apr 17, 2010 (gmt 0)
If you're dumb enough to knowingly pirate something, and then type your real name into it when asked, then you should be required by law to wear a football helmet, mouthpiece and pads at all times.
outland88
4:01 am on Apr 17, 2010 (gmt 0)
tkwg, You gotta admit thieves stealing from thieves on illegal download sites is a little amusing. Err, I was purchasing a license to receive stolen goods and low and behold they stole from me. Justice comes in all shapes.
The big picture though is more and more cc information is being stolen than ever.
Lexur
5:43 am on Apr 17, 2010 (gmt 0)
Looking the bright side, it means ROI of standard spam/scam systems is declining and the bad boys are looking for new business models.
HRoth
9:14 am on Apr 17, 2010 (gmt 0)
I came across a site that was doing something similar without any virus a few years ago. It would harvest emails from livejournal and then put them up on a website dedicated to pictures of gay men without clothing on. You had to pay to have it removed. So yeah, it's extortion.
RonPK
5:58 pm on Apr 18, 2010 (gmt 0)
Just follow the money, dear Watson.
Sgt_Kickaxe
6:41 pm on Apr 20, 2010 (gmt 0)
Just yikes.
bsisec
11:01 pm on Apr 24, 2010 (gmt 0)
I have had a few friends hit with this already. I run linux boxes mainly but still need to watch out no matter what you are running.
