Difference between revisions of "Ransomware"

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(Created page with 'Ransomware is a category of Malware that is seen when a Trojan Horse takes over a computer and encrypts the victim's hard drive, charging money to decrypt it, hence the "…')
 
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Ransomware is a category of [[Malware]] that is seen when a [[Trojan Horse]] takes over a computer and encrypts the victim's hard drive, charging money to decrypt it, hence the "ransom".
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Ransomware is a category of [[Malware]] seen when a [[Trojan Horse]] takes over a computer and encrypts the victim's drives, charging money to decrypt it, hence the "ransom".
 
 
  
 
== First known case ==
 
== First known case ==
  
In 1989 the AIDS Trojan Horse was written, which claimed to offer information about AIDS and HIV. When victims ran the program, the [[Trojan Horse | Trojan]] would encrypt their hard disk and display a message demanding money in exchange for a password that could be used to decrypt the hard disk and recover their files. If the users did not send any payment, the drive would remain encrypted indefinitely, and the victim would not be able to access any of their files and/or programs.
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In 1989 the AIDS Trojan was written, claiming to be an AIDS Info Diskette. When you ran the AIDSID, the trojan would encrypt your HDD and display a message demanding money in exchange for a password that decrypts the HDD and recovers your files, involving sending $189 to a Post Office box in Panama. If you did not pay, the drive would remain encrypted & you could not be able to access any files and/or programs.

Latest revision as of 15:27, 12 April 2015

Ransomware is a category of Malware seen when a Trojan Horse takes over a computer and encrypts the victim's drives, charging money to decrypt it, hence the "ransom".

First known case

In 1989 the AIDS Trojan was written, claiming to be an AIDS Info Diskette. When you ran the AIDSID, the trojan would encrypt your HDD and display a message demanding money in exchange for a password that decrypts the HDD and recovers your files, involving sending $189 to a Post Office box in Panama. If you did not pay, the drive would remain encrypted & you could not be able to access any files and/or programs.