The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) on Sept 1, 2017 issued an alert about spread of a new malicious software ‘Locky’, which is being circulated through spam messages.
This is a ransomware that can potentially lock computers and demand ransom for restoring access to users.
Reports indicate that over 23 million messages are being sent in this campaign.
Locky Ransomware is learnt to be demanding ransom of half bitcoin, which at present rate is equivalent to over Rs 1.5 lakh.
The alert, issued on Cyber Swachhta Kendra, said it has been reported that a new wave of spam mails is circulating with common subject lines to spread variants of Locky Ransomware.
To target users, it added, spam e-mails showing links to fake websites is being used to spread Locky variants.
Users are advised to exercise caution while opening e-mails and organisations are advised to deploy anti-spam solutions and update spam block lists.
This is the third major ransomware attack this year after Wannacry and Petya that crippled thousands of computers, including those of multinational corporations.
In fact, according to an Assocham PWC study, India was the third worst affected country in a list of over 100 countries hit by Wannacry in May.
