AGL email virus Cryptolocker

[Jaros]

Don't open AGL emails. Cryptolocker virus has just infected my Father in Law's PC and he has lost everything. All family occasion photos , cruise ship holidays.
Makes you wonder whether it's worth getting photo's printed for safe keeping. He had virus protection - i don't know which one, but it didn't help him.
Jaros

 

[Balmain Bob]

Gday Jaros
Here is an article about that . It was in the SMH the last day or so.

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/co...-copies-agl-energy-bills-20160603-gpb9ty.html

I generally back up all the important stuff like photos and documents to dvd every month or so just in case. I have had a Hard drive fail on me a few years ago and lost the lot.

As it says in the article , get him to take it to an expert to see what they can retrieve.

Hopefully there may be a back door onto the drive

 

[Tathradj]

Down load AVG rescue disk, create it and run it.
First rule of computing.
Thou shalt back up.

 

[Jaros]

He has got it at a PC shop now and they will tell him next week if they can retrieve anything.
Thanks BB.
Jaros

 

[MikeB05]

Yep I received that email and deleted it thank God...also do regular back-ups to a wireless hard-drive. Has saved my bacon more than once. Hope your Dad gets it sorted.

Another I got last week was from the AFP telling me I had a court appearance...I am no saint but never had a day in court so deleted that one as well.

Rule of thumb never open an attachment...google first...usually there is a warning out about those emails

 

[Colmaca]

I'll give this virus a crack where can I download see if my PC can handle it

 

[Jaros]

Down load AVG rescue disk, create it and run it.
First rule of computing.
Thou shalt back up.

He is 82 and not really up to IT probs and procedures. He is trying to work out the new Iphone6 he bought recently. He's trying and that's good.
When it comes to backing up I might do it once a year if that.
Now that we are on about it I will do it next week.
Cheers Jaros

 

[Jaros]

"Anyone receiving a suspicious email should delete it immediately or, if opened, not click on any links within the email. Anyone with concerns relating to this scam email should call AGL on 131 245 or contact Scamwatch on 1300 795 995."

 

[AngerManagement]

I do an image every second day.... 3 levels of backup... And separate HDD's cloned for data...

Virus software is only OK if the software knows the virus...

So easy to add in a simple script and when you click etc.. Just delete the Reg Keys or worse... mate loved embedding nasty scripts inside pdf and office files but bugger only sent to his work mates and then expected us to buy him a coffee LOL.

Do not open and or install files if you do not know the sender OR have bloody good protection. ( I tried a condom on my mouse; but that did not even keep the wife away).

***********

After you enter the code, a .zip file supposedly containing your bill will be downloaded to your computer.

The .zip file harbours a malicious JavaScript file that, if opened, can download and install a version of the infamous Torrentlocker ransomware.

Once installed, Torrentlocker can lock up all of your important computer files and then demand that you pay a ransom to online criminals to recover them.

 

[Tathradj]

The run once scripts are good for a few laughs at times. :lol:

 

[goldengoose]

Don't open AGL emails. Cryptolocker virus has just infected my Father in Law's PC and he has lost everything. All family occasion photos , cruise ship holidays.
Makes you wonder whether it's worth getting photo's printed for safe keeping. He had virus protection - i don't know which one, but it didn't help him.
Jaros

Thanks Jaros for the heads up and letting others Know Cheers

 

[Coalsummer]

Petty to hear that... the crooks really know no shame at all, they even attack hospitals and old people. the point is, you may do need to open the email, but just do not open the attachment before ensuring it's safe

 

[Coalsummer]

And the backups are not always possible...

 

[Coalsummer]

That is, the thing is going to wait and see when you make a backup, and then it stings. Some protection is vital

 

[Coalsummer]

Without antivirus one cannot survive, sure...

 

[Coalsummer]

and the removal is a must, by the way. many victims were double scammed due to the simple reason that they have note removed the ransomware, so that it relaunched the encryption http://soft2secure.com/knowledgebase/agl-scam-virus

 

[condor22]

My wife got a Facebook warning, I don't think we would open it primarily because our power provider is not AGL.

We use Trend Micro Maximum Security AV 4 seat license, because we both have a laptop and both a smart phone. Many people with email capable Android smart phones forget to install AV. Which considering the number of people using a phone for banking, very risky.

My reason for selecting Trend is; this is what was and still is, in use on the Defence Network. If it's good enough for them...........etc. Notwithstanding that when an employee, it was available to me free. I now pay for it and it's well worth the cost.

So far we have both been Virus free for over 10 years.

 

[SCROUNGER]

One of our daughters computer just went down when she opened an AGL email by mistake. She said she watched as everything just melted on the screen as she watched.
There are some serious low lifes out there, be careful what you open and more importantly perhaps, run backups.

 

[LC76]

My wife got a Facebook warning, I don't think we would open it primarily because our power provider is not AGL.

We use Trend Micro Maximum Security AV 4 seat license, because we both have a laptop and both a smart phone. Many people with email capable Android smart phones forget to install AV. Which considering the number of people using a phone for banking, very risky.

My reason for selecting Trend is; this is what was and still is, in use on the Defence Network. If it's good enough for them...........etc. Notwithstanding that when an employee, it was available to me free. I now pay for it and it's well worth the cost.

So far we have both been Virus free for over 10 years.

Only reason defence use it is because it was cheapest tender.
Most free antivirus do everything you could need it to do.
For me thats Avast free.
And Malwarebytes free.

Thanks for the headsup Jaros

 

[Mike70]

I use Avast, and Malwarebytes, didn't prevent a bogus microsoft popup invading my computer and making it useless.