Residents alerted on ransom-seeking virus
abu dhabi — First it will creep into your online accounts, then seek ransom: This is the latest virus attack spreading around the world, which is believed to have reached the UAE.
Public Prosecution in Abu Dhabi has warned the public to take an extra caution while opening links attached to e-mails from unknown sources, as it may contain the “Ransonware”.
As a precaution, it’s better to avoid such emails even though the file seems important or “curiously interesting”.
The Public Prosecution also warned the public of falling prey to global electronic gangs, who resort to “Ransomware” for extortion.
“The said virus creeps into the computers and smart phones of individuals and corporations by hunting messages or electronic programs that encrypt all the information available on their computers in a way that prevent them from accessing those details.
“Then they (the scammers) communicate with the victims and blackmail them to pay amounts of money in exchange of retrieving their stored data.”
The Public Prosecution urged the public not to heed to demands of such ‘extorters’ who seek payment against recovering files,
Offenders will get jail term of up to three years and a fine of not more than Dh1 million if they access others data for themselves or others illegally.”
Public prosecution
who can easily access their information again. Residents were also asked to avoid replying to messages which they receive from unreliable source. Reading such mails before deleting is also not advisable, according to the Public Prosecution.
“The most important precautionary measure, which everyone should adopt, is to using genuine anti-viruses and update them continuously,” the Public Prosecution said.
The UAE’s cyber crime law criminalise any entry to others’ accounts without permission with an intention to destruct, change, copy or publishing them. The penalty will be stricter in case these information, in question of the crime, are personal ones.
“Offenders will get jail term of up to three years and a fine of not more than Dh1 million if they access others data for themselves or others illegally through any means of IT facilities,” the Public Prosecution said.