The Windows 10 Upgrade Scam

Cybercriminals are quick off the mark to take advantage of an unsuspecting public possibly confused with all the latest updates in the word of technology. Microsoft recently launched their latest operating system, Windows 10 and it is this fact that criminals are using to scam people. The scam operates by sending an email, which appears to come from Microsoft, inviting users to perform a free upgrade to Windows 10 by running the attached zipped file. ...The email looks very convincing with the usual addresses, logos and colour schemes used by Microsoft and because the file is zipped it goes undetected by many anti-virus programmes. The file contains malicious software known as 'ransomware' which essentially locks your computer by encrypting files until money is paid to the computer hijacker using an untraceable digital currency such as Bitcoin. There is usually a time limit of 96 hours on the demand after which your computer files will remain encrypted and therefor is rendered useless. There has been a huge surge in this type of cyber-attack because it’s a lucrative business for cyber criminals earning anything from R2000 – R50 000 to give you a decryption key. The Windows 10 Upgrade is not the only guise these type of scams fall under. Other examples include upgrading other popular software, programmes to ‘clean or speed up’ your computer and free virus checkers. Paying the criminals is not the smart solution as often they just continue extorting more money from you until you are unable to comply anymore and even then there is no guarantee they will unlock your computer. You can get rid of the ransomware file by doing a system restore but unfortunately once infected there is little you can do to retrieve your lost files, so the best way of combating this type of crime is prevention. The legitimate Windows 10 upgrade is usually offered as a popup on screen but to absolutely sure, rather go to the Microsoft site and upgrade from there.

#ransomware #hijack #windows10