Fighting High Tech Muggers And Their Ransomware

MCLEAN, Va (WUSA9) — Imagine someone breaking into your home and stealing your your files, your photos – all your favorite things.

Victims say that’s what it’s like to be hit by ransomware, malicious software code that encrypts all the files on your computer. You’ve got a maybe 50-50 chance of recovering your precious memories if you pay a ransom. But you can fight back.It’s like a high tech mugging and it’s surging, hitting people and businesses across the country. The FBI estimates internet pirates extorted at least $25 million in ransom from Americans last year.

In the first few months of this year,  it’s maybe ten times that.”I felt like a thief had come up through my computer screen and was in my house,” said Catherine, a McLean mother of three who was a victim. “I had at least a thousand photographs on there.”

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