Page 55 - Cyber Warnings

Why do policemen still click on attachments? This is the oldest well known infection method for
all viruses not only ransomware.

“The virus is so complicated and successful that you have to buy these Bitcoins, which we had
never heard of.”
Swansea Police Lt. Gregory Ryan http://www.heraldnews.com/x2132756948/Swansea-police-
pay-750-ransom-after-computer-virus-strikes

They know nothing of Bitcoins and say it is so complicated virus? What do they know? Even
children know it. It’s not just paying ransom, with Bitcoins it is clearly the money laundering
scheme officers are helping with. Do they know from whom they bought those Bitcoins and
where it will go? More and more ransomware cases show that funds go into launching bigger
spam campaigns and exploit developments.

“We’ve upgraded our antivirus software.”
Swansea Police Lt. Gregory Ryan http://www.heraldnews.com/x2132756948/Swansea-police-
pay-750-ransom-after-computer-virus-strikes

Why wasn’t that done before? These are minimum measures every child should know. In the
Internet era, do they have IT procedures at all?

“This isn’t a breach. The data stays interior, but this virus encrypts it and prevents it from being
readable.”
The Tewksbury Police Department Chief Timothy Sheehan
http://homenewshere.com/tewksbury_town_crier/news/article_8f8ce2ba-da0d-11e4-a127-
578b97102bf0.html

“No outside parties gained access to any personal information, and that the police department
did not lose any files. We were never compromised.”
Swansea Police Lt. Gregory Ryan http://www.heraldnews.com/x2132756948/Swansea-police-
pay-750-ransom-after-computer-virus-strikes

Never compromised? Hackers planted a virus and managed to encrypt files. Ransomware
needs to communicate with its Command and Control servers to encrypt data.

Encryption keys were sent back and forth. Are they 100% sure other data was not sent out?

How do they know that no vital data was lost or stolen? Xbot ransomware for example which is
3-in-1 - it seals data, encrypts data, and is a banking Trojan. Virus does not come alone. It
drops backdoor, key-loggers, rootkits.
55 Cyber Warnings E-Magazine December 2016 Edition
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