Have you heard of Ransom-ware"

You have probably heard of “malware”, which nefarious ne’erdowells slither into your computer.  Have you ever heard of “Ransom-ware”? The NY Post had an article that was troubling.

Cyber gangs catch Internet porn watchers ‘in their underwear’, demand ransom for return of PC control

A pornography consumer who called the police in tears is among hundreds of Australians whose computers have been hacked by cyber criminals while viewing adult websites.

According to Fairfax, foreign gangs have been holding porn consumers ransom after infecting their PCs with viruses known as “ransomware”, which includes the “ukash”, “reveton” and “trojan.ransomlock” viruses.

The cyber criminals, who falsely claim to be members of the Australian Federal Police, “kidnap” a computer user’s data and demand a ransom for its return,

In this case, they have reportedly been activating the webcams on the users’ computers.

The viruses lock the desktop and post an incriminating image of the person on their screen before warning they have breached federal laws relating to child pornography, copyright or privacy, Fairfax reports.

The hackers then demand the victims pay a fine of $100 or $199 using a credit card or money transfer service.

They are threatened that if they don’t pay the fine within 72 hours, data files on the computer can be encrypted or wiped.

But even if a consumer pays a ransom for this kind of attack, it’s no guarantee they will regain control of their computer.

[...]

Not that you are sitting around looking at porn, mind you. However, if the ability to do this is out there, then there is no telling how and when the viler blackmailers will apply it to less unsavory sites, to capture the innocent. Be careful about where you surf, and what you click to open.   

And keep your anti-virus software up to date.

http://wdtprs.com/blog/