[2014-12-18] 98.6% of TorrentLocker Victims Refuse to Pay Bitcoin Ransom

[zakoliverz]

http://www.coindesk.com/98-5-torrentlocker-victims-refuse-pay-bitcoin-ransom/

TorrentLocker (aka Win32 or Filecoder.DI) is a strain of bitcoin ransomware that works by encrypting users' files. Victims are requested to pay up to 4 BTC to decrypt their documents, though this figure can vary.

The report, authored by Marc-Etienne M Léveillé for security firm ESET, found that only 570 out of 39,760 infected systems were given access to decryption software upon paying the full ransom.

"In other words 1.44% of all infected users we have identified have paid the ransom to the cybercriminals," Léveillé writes, adding: "There are also 20 pages showing that bitcoins were sent but access to the decryption software wasn’t given because the full amount wasn’t paid."

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[XCoinCall]

It's a good call, not paying the ransom. There are resources stating how to remove it: http://www.im-infected.com/trojan/remove-torrentlocker-virus-removal.html

[Mudd]

I'm not surprised people don't pay it. It's hard enough getting bitcoins especially to a newcommer, and most people just wont have anything that valuable on there and will just reinstall their stuff. There's no guarantee the virus will even be unlocked after recieving payment as well.

[panju1]

There are also 20 pages showing that bitcoins were sent but access to the decryption software wasn’t given because the full amount wasn’t paid."

Absolutely no honour among thieves.
This is one reason why we shouldn't give in to criminals, cyber or otherwise.

[XCoinCall]

There are also 20 pages showing that bitcoins were sent but access to the decryption software wasn’t given because the full amount wasn’t paid."

Absolutely no honour among thieves.
This is one reason why we shouldn't give in to criminals, cyber or otherwise.

Ultimately, there's an economical principle involved: efficiency. If we make it easy for criminals, the benefit outweighs the cost.

[Neg]

There are also 20 pages showing that bitcoins were sent but access to the decryption software wasn’t given because the full amount wasn’t paid."

Absolutely no honour among thieves.
This is one reason why we shouldn't give in to criminals, cyber or otherwise.

Obviously they don't care since they're taking your money in the first place. Bitcoin is bound to be used by these people because its very nature makes it perfect for them, but most people who get this virus will have little idea how to buy bitcoins so it probably depends how desperate they are to get their files back.