Crypto Locker

CryptoLocker is a form of Trojan horse ransomwaretargeted at computers running Windows. Ituses several methods to spread itself, such as email, and once a computer is infected, it will proceed to encrypt certain files on the hard driveand any mounted storage connected to it with RSA public key cryptography. While it is easy enough to remove the malware from the computer, the files will still remain encrypted.The only way to unlock the files is to pay a ransom by a deadline. If the deadline is not met, theransom will increase significantly or the decryption keys deleted. The ransom usually amount to$400 in prepaid cash or bitcoin.via Bleepingcomputer.com The ransom operation was eventually stopped whenlaw enforcement agencies and security companies managed to take control part of the botnet operating CryptoLocker and Zeus. Evgeniy Bogachev, the ring leader, waschargedand the encryption keys were released to the affected computers. From data collected from the raid, the number of infections isestimatedto be 500,000, with the number of those whopaid the ransom to be at 1.3%, amounting to $3 million.