New Ransomware attack

Only 5 days out and Win10 being screwed with. This link was in an E-Mail today:
New Windows 10 scam will encrypt your files for ransom | ZDNet

Berton said:

Only 5 days out and Win10 being screwed with.
New Windows 10 scam will encrypt your files for ransom | ZDNet

You didn't rally read it very well did you? "soon-to-be Windows 10 users" and notice that it's a screenshot of Windows 8 (there's no start button).

This is not some flaw in Windows 10, nor is it even a flaw in Windows 8. You can't prevent users from running Trojans of their own free will.

Berton said:

Only 5 days out and Win10 being screwed with. This link was in an E-Mail today:
New Windows 10 scam will encrypt your files for ransom | ZDNet

This has nothing to do with Windows 10. It's a phishing attack where bogus email purported to be from Microsoft tricks people into downloading malware. This kind of scam has been around for a long time and it's the reason why people are told not to open email attachments unless they are certain the sender is valid.

Hi all

I've just joined this discussion - I thought I'd share the following.

I received this from staysmartonline(Aust. Govt.) to which I subscribe:

"Fake Windows 10 update leading to ransomware attack: Alert Priority High

Ransomware disguised as an installer of the new Microsoft Windows 10 operating system is encrypting Australian user and business computers.

The ransomware resides in an email that claims to be from Microsoft which offers a free upgrade to Windows 10. The email contains a zip file attachment, which contains a program labelled as the Windows 10 installer.

However, if you run this program, it will encrypt any important files, including Word documents and photos on your computer.

If you receive an email offering a free upgrade to Windows 10, we advise that you delete the email and do not open it or any attachments.

Windows users interested in upgrading their computer can register via Microsoft’s official website. Windows 10 updates will then be facilitated by a program on your computer, not via an email offer."

And so it goes on...

The word is certainly out there although some (like me) twig to it a bit slower than others. This post is for them. See, e.g.: Google

It is worth users taking seriously. Attackers certainly do. It's how they make their living (if only they'd use their skills towards a decent world!?!?).

Cheers

ausgumbie