We thought we would make our very first blog post about something that has been quite concerning to us here at Hobart Computer Doctors. There has been a rise in the number of “encryption” viruses that have been doing the rounds, which can effectively render a users files useless. The only known way to resolve this issue is to pay a ransom to the criminals who make this software, and hope that they will give you access to your data again.

Common examples of these viruses are “Cryptowall” and “Cryptolocker”. These are really emphasising the importance of backing up your data, and also making sure that you have an online backup system in place. It is unfortunate that this particular virus will also infect your files on your external hard drives, however with an online backup you can always restore your files to any previous point in time with no data loss.

These viruses are known to mostly spread through emails, and the most common ones to look out for are ones claiming that you have received a speeding fine, and ones with a resume as an attachment. An example of the resume version of this virus looks as follows –

My name is Mohammad Gomez, attached is my resume.
I look forward to hearing back from you.

Thank you,

Mohammad

This message will contain a zip file which as inside it a .js file. These files are “script” or code that will encrypt your data, so be very careful to delete any emails that are from untrusted sources. Should you need help with any virus issues on your computer, or if you need help setting up an online backup system please do not hesitate to give us a call on 03 6237 0151.