Extortionists target Internet
Virtual gangsters charge ‘ransom’ to websites
Organized crime networks are demanding ransoms from offshore gambling websites, using the threat of shutting them down to extract payouts typically ranging from $45,000 to $67,000. These "cyber-extortionists" infiltrate personal computers without the owners’ knowledge. They use viruses to install secret programs allowing criminals to gain control of thousands or even tens of thousands of computers.
The programs can stay dormant for weeks or even months before hackers activate “zombie computers” to attack an Internet gambling site. These computers to send messages to a particular site. They overwhelm the site. There is no way that site can respond to all these messages coming from all over the world. So the site starts to slow down, crawl, or actually can be just taken down."
That’s when information super-highwaymen send in a ransom demand.
Find out more
Organized crime networks are demanding ransoms from offshore gambling websites, using the threat of shutting them down to extract payouts typically ranging from $45,000 to $67,000. These "cyber-extortionists" infiltrate personal computers without the owners’ knowledge. They use viruses to install secret programs allowing criminals to gain control of thousands or even tens of thousands of computers.
The programs can stay dormant for weeks or even months before hackers activate “zombie computers” to attack an Internet gambling site. These computers to send messages to a particular site. They overwhelm the site. There is no way that site can respond to all these messages coming from all over the world. So the site starts to slow down, crawl, or actually can be just taken down."
That’s when information super-highwaymen send in a ransom demand.
Find out more
posted by Postcards From The Ledge at
2:42 AM
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