FBI Virus Wide Spread

Computer users everywhere need to be aware of the “FBI virus” that has been around now for over a year. Statistics show that computers being serviced represent about 40 percent of the units brought in by customers for infection with the “FBI virus”. This virus has been so successful and is so dangerous because it’s elaborate, and it uses fear to coerce its victims. It’s important for computer users to remember that this virus is common place around the entire country. Some people have been duped into paying over $400 to get access to their operating system again.

This virus locks the computer, and displays an FBI badge, the user’s IP address and username on the screen. Alongside this display is a disclaimer that states that the computer user has been blocked from the internet for viewing or downloading illegal content like child pornography and other types of taboo websites. The disclaimer alongside the official FBI badge also states that the computer user will be granted access to the internet again by making payments of a few hundred dollars through Green Dot MoneyPak or other online services. Several versions of this virus look different, but they all have the same intent: scamming money from fearful computer users.

FBI Issues Statement on FBI Virus

The disclaimer prompt displayed by the virus can be a very scary experience that catches any type of computer user off guard. This virus can even cause a rift or tension between people that share one computer. It’s important for computer users to remember not to blame each other for contracting this malicious virus. The virus comes with detailed instructions and typically displays a deadline of 48 to 72 hours to make the payment online. Some of the disclaimers for this virus quote federal statutes and tell computer users to contact an “fbi.gov” email if they have any problems. This is a very convincing ruse, but it’s simply a sophisticated scam, nothing more.

Many people contract this virus on websites that are booby trapped, emails and different social media links. It’s important for computers users to remember that anytime they see a message or prompt similar to what is described above, it’s absolutely a scam, and not a message from the FBI.

The reason that the majority of the customers contract this FBI virus failed to upgrade their respective anti-virus software with the latest updates. The reason this is so important is because hackers are constantly making new modifications and creating different versions of this virus in order to circumvent many of the latest online fixes. Initially, the FBI virus mostly affected users with a Windows OS; more recently, Mac users are being infected as well. Fortunately, smartphones haven’t been susceptible or infected with this virus as of yet.