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警察在2周前通过媒体给市民的警告:: M5 v- |! l U
" v' d% a+ |5 j5 |1 F1 S- D) FPolice warn of computer scam
# N; c' y& G/ F8 M+ gFor Immediate Release:16-Oct-2012 @ 8:58 AM
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EPS File #:
% \. \- y9 |7 T2 a' ZThe Edmonton Police Service is warning the public about an on-going computer scam known as ransomware.
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Ransomware is essentially a threat to your computer unless you pay an external company.
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Several reports have been received by the EPS where computer users are claiming they are receiving pop-up messages asking for immediate payment otherwise they would be “locked out” of their computers. , l! U3 q# N: j/ ]- K) F# e
6 X; R$ i3 C) V( }; DIt has been reported that these pop-up warning messages are claiming to come from a Canadian police or government agency. The message tells computer users to pay $100 via Ukash (a payment service provider) so that their computers can be “unlocked.”
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6 g2 S4 d4 v/ T“Often these pop-up messages appear after a user attempts to download something off the internet,” says Staff Sgt. Dan Service with Economic Crimes Section. “The download activates “malware” or a type of virus which creates a pop-up message asking for payment.”
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) h: m* |0 }3 O2 O; x& x% ~( i0 tRansomware scams are designed to create shock and anxiety so computer users respond by sending money quickly to prevent being locked out of their computer. % a5 j+ A! r0 M, A2 @8 c
& p% e' N- y% ^ x9 hIf you receive one of these messages, please be aware that: 6 m( ^( X2 T' O$ b7 {" T
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•the ransomware is an attempt to defraud you.
$ e' x# M( x, {7 @# n- ^% W•sending money will not fix your computer – it will remain locked. DO NOT SEND MONEY.
; t9 k8 E4 E5 X8 [; c8 a+ M•neither police nor any Canadian government agency would hijack computers in order to obtain money. * b+ p0 e* c% X G8 h, d
•the ransomware is hard evidence that your computer has been infected by malicious software (malware) that must be dealt with. 9 D! h' v, C1 m
The recommended way to re-gain access to your computer is to seek the help of a computer technician who can remove the malware.
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, H3 H- Q$ }4 d! KTo protect against cyber attacks, it is recommended to update your software regularly. You should have up-to-date anti-virus, spyware and firewall protection. & v- Q. X2 S7 V+ v9 R. h1 N
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If you receive a ransomware message, please report it to the police and to the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-850 or http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/
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7 ?) [/ J) Q5 `! { e2 ^Please contact Noreen Remtulla at (780) 421-3552 for more information.
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