Public Bulletin from GCSD: Beware of ‘Ransomware’ attacks

Greene County Sheriff’s Detective Sergeant Jim O’Malley released a public bulletin early Thursday afternoon warning the public about “Ransomware.” O’Malley said there have been several complaints throughout Greene County over the past month about this malware.

Det. O’Malley explained that ransomware is a type of malware that prevents users from accessing their own cell phone, computer system or personal files, then demands ransom payments in order to regain access.

“These ransomware viruses can be in the form of booby-trapped PDFs or Word documents, malicious advertising pop-ups, unfamiliar emails, etc. Sometimes they are disguised as government documents,” said O’Malley.

“The best method of protection from ransomware is to prevent it from happening in the first place.”

The detective recommended investing in real-time protection to thwart malware attacks. He said “Malwarebytes for Windows” is one example.

He also recommended creating a secure backup on a regular basis, using “cloud” storage that includes high-level encryption, or an external hard drive.

“Above all, if it seems suspicious, it probably is,” said O’Malley. “Do not offer payment for the release or ransom of your information.”

Editor's Note: These types of attacks that have been occurring in Greene County have also been occurring in the surrounding area and other law enforcement agencies are issuing similar alerts. The Vigo County Sheriff’s Department issued an alert two days ago with a similar warning noting that paying a ransom does not guarantee your computer will be unlocked or what your total charges might be.