"Your files have been virus-encrypted" but don't panic
By Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 18 July 2007
Security specialist Kaspersky Lab has detected a new version of Gpcode, a virus which encrypts user data and demands payment for the decryption routine.
Kaspersky says Virus.Win32.Gpcode.ai uses a complex encryption algorithm to encrypt user files and archives, making it impossible to open them. It then drops a file titled "read_me.txt" to the victim machine, which contains the message "Hello, your files are encrypted with RSA-4096 algorithm (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSA). You will need at least few years to decrypt these files without our software. All your private information for last 3 months were collected and sent to us. To decrypt your files you need to buy our software. The price is $300. To buy our software please contact us at:
xxxxxxx@xxxxx.comThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it and provide us your personal code -xxxxxxxxx. After successful purchase we will send your decrypting tool, and your private information will be deleted from our system. If you will not contact us until 07/15/2007 your private information will be shared and you will lost all your data."
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Regards,
"There is a certain relief in change, even though it be from bad to worse; as I have found in travelling in a stage-coach, that it is often a comfort to shift one's position and be bruised in a new place." - WASHINGTON IRVING, Tales of a Traveller