 鲜花( 39)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
警察在2周前通过媒体给市民的警告:3 J) v# V( L) _. x7 Z, ]
# H7 n& o: z7 F- C3 \% M* P# {Police warn of computer scam 6 J' V! l; h0 Z b; f# b
For Immediate Release:16-Oct-2012 @ 8:58 AM " L+ a5 b; Q, U$ x- \! C8 Z
MRU #:12R159
. m/ H2 W, S1 n& P* x* IEPS File #:
9 d$ g( f( R, X7 M: f( tThe Edmonton Police Service is warning the public about an on-going computer scam known as ransomware.
* G. a6 I& G& |) p
: u- P. H p9 l2 K6 c* J3 @0 s' c" i7 _% s/ [+ b
Ransomware is essentially a threat to your computer unless you pay an external company.
: {" X6 b2 _ q$ K) f
8 J8 \1 [2 Z; x) lSeveral reports have been received by the EPS where computer users are claiming they are receiving pop-up messages asking for immediate payment otherwise they would be “locked out” of their computers.
6 R0 W( X+ O1 k" {8 b1 t, p0 x* E, D$ m7 [3 K0 i
It has been reported that these pop-up warning messages are claiming to come from a Canadian police or government agency. The message tells computer users to pay $100 via Ukash (a payment service provider) so that their computers can be “unlocked.”$ A; A: R0 j' j) [: a% h7 N* e
. A0 m! I( Z2 D# s7 y“Often these pop-up messages appear after a user attempts to download something off the internet,” says Staff Sgt. Dan Service with Economic Crimes Section. “The download activates “malware” or a type of virus which creates a pop-up message asking for payment.”
% W; e' l$ u( v7 E) r3 y; o9 |# {& f* O& t7 K: }0 _' T
Ransomware scams are designed to create shock and anxiety so computer users respond by sending money quickly to prevent being locked out of their computer.
0 H5 p: E0 C8 q- z9 p
; v: x4 T: d4 F6 x( W; O( _1 ]6 GIf you receive one of these messages, please be aware that:
# \! c6 S" w3 f! a7 v$ A0 U0 i: A# Z9 S* p
•the ransomware is an attempt to defraud you. 4 w. q# G: G# S3 a5 [! L
•sending money will not fix your computer – it will remain locked. DO NOT SEND MONEY.
) _. B+ p6 L! e& _. z. z9 m+ R: A•neither police nor any Canadian government agency would hijack computers in order to obtain money. ! x7 ? b' i+ e0 ^
•the ransomware is hard evidence that your computer has been infected by malicious software (malware) that must be dealt with. 9 h" B) P" w% }% @
The recommended way to re-gain access to your computer is to seek the help of a computer technician who can remove the malware.
( O' g1 O7 r S/ m; K0 ?/ ?3 B6 n `2 m5 B9 Q$ N
To protect against cyber attacks, it is recommended to update your software regularly. You should have up-to-date anti-virus, spyware and firewall protection.
$ }! I3 ~4 {7 ?+ y" C$ [2 [0 i6 P8 n4 r0 G$ \" E# p
If you receive a ransomware message, please report it to the police and to the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-850 or http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/
0 V0 ?* u: n7 q5 J% J. X$ [ y2 @& R* u; S+ v
7 I# y5 G- n- e-30-9 _" P! h4 c/ \! [5 x
3 s! n2 U2 P- l) r0 TPlease contact Noreen Remtulla at (780) 421-3552 for more information.
( D5 |. o( p8 `/ P/ J) | |
|