Here’s a scary thought: Malwares are getting greedy nowadays. A computer malware has infected PCs using an online file sharing site and has blackmailed more than 5500 users. Hoo boy!
BBC reported that a computer malware, known as Kenzero, has managed to invade computer systems posing as a game installation file from Winni, a popular file-sharing site. Winni has 200M users around the world. Kenzero homes in on illicit downloads of Hentai games. Hentai in Japanese means metamorphosis, but over the years, the meaning of the term itself metamorphosed into meaning anime, manga, or games with a pornographic nature.
Kenzero poses as a game installation and asks for personal details from its unwitting victims. It then posts a screenshot of the victim’s browser history in a public website. For the screen shot to be deleted, Kenzero makers, send an e-mail and ask for 1500 yen ($15) to settle the “copyright violation”. Talk about compromising situations.
The public website that hosts the ‘evidence’ is registered under Romancing Inc. and it under a pseudonym Shoen Overns. Apparently, Kenzero makers are from an established gang according to Trend Micro Senior Security Advisor, Ric Ferguson. Trend Micro is monitoring the ransomware’s involvement in Japan.
Other ransomware also feed on copyright infringement. Another case cropped up in European countries as well according to BBC. The ransomware from ICPP supposedly scans for materials violating copyright laws in computers and demands for $400 for a “pre-trial settlement”. To up the ante, the fictitious company warns of court sanctions and imprisonment if the victim tries to ignore the warning and fails to give in their credit card details. The company, however, does not want the $400, instead it sells the victim’s credit info to other entities.
Lesson learned here people, if you have a fetish, download from reputable sites. In the case of pornography, however, much of online websites offering these services are either riddled with other forms of malware or just want a free reign at dipping into your credit card accounts.
It is important therefore to note that it is never a good thing to be gullible while using the Internet. Internet users have to start taking adequate steps to avoid malware infection. A big step would be to steer clear of suspicious sites offering free downloads, hacks, cracks and pornography.
If fetishes are your thing, make sure you never disclose any of your personal information. As in never. Anyone or any site that pretends it can cater to your needs but asks for your personal information is not even worth a few seconds of your time. It would help if you would subscribe to an online banking system that would protect your credit card details. Most secure sites offer secure log-in. Take note of the https:// in the URL of your log-in page.
