Local

FBI scam malware hitting area computers

A virus that hijacks your computer and tries to convince you its been taken over by the Federal Bureau of Investigation because of your "illegal activities" has begun to show up in fairly high numbers in the Tulsa area.

Donna Gregory of the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) says the virus is called "Reveton ransomware," and it installs itself without the user clicking having to open a suspicious email or download anything.

It can simply be a matter of visiting a compromised website, and once infected, the computer immediately locks, and a screen comes up stating that the user has violated federal law.

It goes on in official sounding jargon about the Department of Justice, intellectual property laws, and some versions even accuse the user of having accessed or disseminated child pornography.

It then provides a method of sending money using Moneypak, an online method of exchanging funds similar to Pay Pal.

Local computer expert Brian Thurman confirms he's seen a number of computers with the virus.

Happily, he says nearly everyone he's helped clean the virus off their computers have recognized the scam for what it was, and haven't lost money -- except what they paid him for his services.

Thurman, of Thurman Computers, says using outdated browsers, outdated Flash players, and outdated anti-virus software makes people vulnerable to this type of virus.

Once infected, the easiest way for most people would be to use a service like Thurman's to get rid of the infection.

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