Transcription
NEWSREADER
Thousands are falling victim to a sinister new computer crime – Ransomware freezes your computer and holds it hostage until you pay.
REPORTER SHANE DOHERTY
It’s one of those web sites that let’s you watch TV and the latest movies for free.
TOBY HAZLETT, COMPUTER ZEN
Yeah, it looks quite innocent and quite fun – make the monkey happy.
REPORTER SHANE DOHERTY
But if you, your staff or your kids have used it, it could be too late. Click on that and you’re a goner?
TOBY HAZLETT, COMPUTER ZEN
Basically, yeah.
BRENTON DEANE, VICTIM
We were absolutely, totally disabled, we just couldn’t do anything.
REPORTER SHANE DOHERTY
Brenton Deane is just one of the victims of Ransomware, a sinister new tool of the cyber criminals. They even wiped his back-up material and brought his bus company to a standstill.
BRENTON DEANE, VICTIM
We couldn’t invoice anyone. We couldn’t pay anyone.
REPORTER SHANE DOHERTY
The program gets in when you open a suspect email or visit one of those sites. Crooks have used it to operate webcams in people’s bedrooms then threatened to upload the images to YouTube. They’ve stolen photo albums and home movies, even frozen inappropriate images on screens until you pay.
This one tells the computer owner they’ll dob them in to the Federal Police for illegal downloads or looking at pornography unless they pay the extortion.
TOBY HAZLETT, COMPUTER ZEN
In the end, you know, he was stuck and he had to pay.
REPORTER SHANE DOHERTY
After a few days of trying everything else, that’s exactly what Brenton did. $3,000 bought his company back online.
BRENTON DEANE, VICTIM
It’s probably not the right thing to do to pay the ransom, but it’s worth a try or else we could be stuck for weeks.
REPORTER SHANE DOHERTY
The advice: make sure your computer’s protected with the latest anti-virus software and keep a hard drive back-up separate from your computer.
TOBY HAZLETT, COMPUTER ZEN
They’ll do anything to get in there and, yeah, you just have to be safe and aware.
REPORTER SHANE DOHERTY
Shane Doherty, Nine News.
About Toby Hazlett
Toby Hazlett. Director of Computer Zen Brisbane. We make IT happen for your home or business. We have been Providing Computer repairs, Managed IT solutions and business IT support for over 10 years in the Brisbane Area. Need IT Help? Reach out to us on 1300 266 936.