The British Government has issued an unusually stark warning about a cyberscam that locks users out of their computers unless they pay a ransom, saying that tens of millions of people may soon be targeted.
In a message headlined ‘URGENT ALERT,’ Britain’s National Crime Agency said today they were aware of a “mass e-mail spamming event that is ongoing” and urged computer users to beware messages purporting to come from their bank.
The scam works by tricking users into downloading CryptoLocker, a piece of malicious software that encrypts a user’s hard drive, effectively scrambling all their personal documents and photos.
A countdown clock appears on the screen warning that the files will be lost irrevocably unless a ransom is paid, typically through hard-to-trace cybercurrencies such as Bitcoin.