cryptolocker - another nasty malware
 

Similar in concept to the FBI/DOJ ransomware malware, but this one supposedly DELETES all of your personal files if ransome is not paid in xx hrs. There's more on it in the following Wikipedia URL.

DO backup your files and have a restore disk handy. Seems to be a fairly new threat.

CryptoLocker - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It doesn't DELETE anything.

It encrypts personal files (leaves the system alone) like documents, pictures, videos, mail, etc. And it does so with impenetrable encryption. You then have a short period of time in which to pay the ransom, which is pretty steep ($300-$400). If you DON'T do so, then the criminals delete the encryption key from the server, which means your files can never be recovered.

They aren't deleted, they just sit there on your hard drive taking up useless space, like most of Congress.

It's too bad they can't target these ***$*%)$*(%&)#$(*& people with some drone strikes.

Yes - that's what the wiki article said. In another web report I read about deletion.

The FBI/DOJ infection had many variants and there were differences in behavior. I found that out when removing from an XP system; then Vista.

This infection is young. Will be interesting to see how many variants arise in the days to come.

If you back up, make sure to back up to something (like an external drive or flash drive) that stays disconnected from the computer most of the time. If you're backing up to a network drive or to some cloud services, it may have the ability to encrypt your backups as well, since it has access to them.

Better yet, use TWO flash drives in rotation, so if it happens to start encrypting while you're backing up, the backup on the other drive that's not connected is safe.

Looks like it's still something that attaches to a Win-Doze email and has to be opened by the hapless user.
I think I'll not panic.

Remember - if its not recent, tested, and off-site, its not a backup :)

-NERC-CIP

If you are concerned :

CryptoLocker Malware Offers Victims 'Second Chance' to Pay Ransom - Tom's Guide

http://www.fooli****.com/vb6-projects/cryptoprevent/ the part edited is lis hit.com