Ransomware

[Felch]

My buddy just got "Security Protection" on his computer. It's some spyware that holds your computer hostage until you buy their anti-spyware fix.

How the **** is this legal? It's a crime to grow, sell, possess or smoke marijuana, but fraudulently installing malicious software is not the government's concern? Obviously there's a paper trail of credit card payments to whatever company is receiving the ransom. Is there some nonsense law preventing the FTC from ending this? Even if the company were in Belarus or some other Russified ****-hole, they still rely on American banks to handle the transaction. If they hide behind the Putin mob, their assets can still be frozen.

I restarted his computer in safe mode, and I'm running a full scan using Microsoft Security Essentials. I hope it'll work, but even if it does, this is needless tedium.

[Kitschum]

I sure can't imagine how all those honorable banking people would not be extremely concerned and upset about having their precious repuation besmirched by any potential association with crooks of the lowest sort such as those you relate. You should inform the relevant parties at once, and I'm sure they'll rectify things pronto in your friend's favor!

(This message brought to you by the Banking-American Friendship association.)

[Felch]

I don't expect the banks to care. I expect the government to protect its citizens from fraudulent businesses, and to use its power over the banks to make life more difficult for these outfits.

[rah]

How did it get on the machine? Wasn't it protected?
And you can always use a credit card to purchase, then deny and let the CC go after them and get your money back.

[Whoha]

I don't expect the banks to care. I expect the government to protect its citizens from fraudulent businesses, and to use its power over the banks to make life more difficult for these outfits.

Big government has to solve all of your problems doesn't it.

[Felch]

He got the malware because he's an idiot. He clicks yes to every retarded thing that pops up. His IE browser window is full of toolbars a full third of the way down the screen. I cuss him out, but then he just rolls another blunt and it's hard to stay mad at the kid.

We could pay and then contest, but wouldn't it be so much better if a Predator drone strike just killed whoever owns this company, along with five or ten "innocent" bystanders?

[Felch]

Big government has to solve all of your problems doesn't it.

Government should protect its citizens from initiation of force and fraud. Stick that up your strawman's ass and suck really really hard.

[SlowwHand]

Can he go to a Restore point, prior to?

[BlackCat]

Can he go to a Restore point, prior to?

Wild guess - he doesn't take backups

[Felch]

I'm actually doing that now. I had installed BTS yesterday, and didn't want to lose that, but it's easy enough to reinstall. The Security Essentials didn't pick up ****, so now we have to go back a couple days.

I just can't get over the fact that this is legal. Why isn't there more of an outcry about this sort of corporate behavior?

EDIT: He wouldn't backup, but luckily it's automatic.

[Kitschum]

Wild guess - he doesn't take backups

You know what, BC? Neither do I. That means that if my computer crashes I'll be back to slinging incomprehensible insults at your bedstemor while I'm redecorating the streets of Helsingør and listening to retarded Swedish techno music at the same time.

And we'd made so much progress in the time we've had together.

[BlackCat]

You know what, BC? Neither do I. That means that if my computer crashes I'll be back to slinging incomprehensible insults at your bedstemor while I'm redecorating the streets of Helsingør and listening to retarded Swedish techno music at the same time.

And we'd made so much progress in the time we've had together.

Well, at least ungdomshuset won't be rebuild so you have to find another place to "repaint"

[BlackCat]

I just can't get over the fact that this is legal. Why isn't there more of an outcry about this sort of corporate behavior?

Buy someting and get it fixed in an unauthorised shop - goodbye guarantee.

[Kitschum]

Ah, precious youth! How fast time flies.

We had a lot of fun in Denmark, I think, or maybe it was Helsingborg, or Hamburg. My memories are not, hvad man nu siger, up to par.

[Provost Harrison]

I could, and have, fixed this before. But it is impossible to fix without your credit card details I'm afraid