If you ever needed a reason to switch to a mac and you were thinking to yourself, “well maybe I’ll wait a bit longer, after all, the malware/virus/trojan scene hasn’t caught up to me yet”, you might want to think again.
Today marks the re-release of Virus.Win32.Gpcode.ak virus for the PC platform. This sucker was released two years ago and went around RSA encrypting peoples files (including, but not limited, to .doc, .txt, .pdf, .xls, .jpg, .png, .cpp, .h) with a 660-bit encryption key. Thank god the boys at Kaspersky Labs found a bug in the code and cracked the code. This time the author(s) are using a 1024-bit key. So if you ever end up with files ending in _CRYPT, you’ve got a major problem on your hand. If the author(s) have done their homework, Karpersky Labs estimates that it would take decades (if not longer) to crack the 1024-bit key.
Now I’m sure you’re thinking I’m spreading FUD, but think about this for a second. How many hours of work would you loose if all your documents were encrypted and you were faced with a ransom note pointing you to pay up to recover them? How much do those digital camera pictures from your last trip mean to you? I don’t know about you but when a virus company comes out and says, “Let’s hope the virus author screwed up or else we’ll be in some serious heat”, I would start worrying.
Anways, something to think about while you’re writing those documents, taking those pictures or creating the next best selling computer game. At the very least you should BACK IT UP!!!! More over at Kaspersky Labs…..