Hackers order Queensland businesses to pay up to regain access to their computers

FIRST you find your business computer has been hijacked by a virus. Then it gets worse, as hackers on the other side of the world issue their demands.

XLNT Chauffeurs’ Claude Chase has stood firm against hackers who have frozen his computer. Picture: Renae Droop

QUEENSLAND businesses have been forced to pay hundreds of dollars in ransoms to unlock their computers from a virus being spread by Russian hackers.

The outbreak of the malicious virus, which has infected tens of millions of computers in Britain and the US, prompted senior police to warn businesses to be on high alert to the devastating fallout from the CryptoLocker virus.

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The head of the state’s Fraud and Cyber Crime Group, Detective Superintendent Brian Hay, revealed Queensland companies were among 40 attacked across Australia in the past week by the elusive crime syndicates.

“The Australian business community continues to be attacked by hordes of cyber criminals from Eastern Europe who are infecting dozens of computers every week by spreading CryptoLocker malware via trusted names and brands,’’ Superintendent Hay said.

“In effect, these businesses are virtually being taken hostage by the virus – and if people pay the ransom being demanded, they are putting money straight into the hands of these criminals.’’

Under the sophisticated scam, owners are ordered to pay a relatively modest ransom or face “maximum’’ grief by being denied access to vital computer data.

It is a dilemma facing XLNT Chauffeurs owner Claude Chase, whose computer files were encrypted when he opened a fake email supposedly from the Office of State Revenue in New South Wales.

“I thought it related to an unpaid traffic infringement notice, and although I knew I didn’t have an outstanding speeding ticket, I still opened it because it looked authentic,’’ Mr Chase said.

“When I did, all the files on my computer were affected and I was given four days to pay a ransom of $599 and be given a decryption key to unlock the files.’’

Despite the frustration and the impact on his Ipswich business, Mr Chase refused to pay the ransom, which has steadily increased to almost $2000.

“They’ve made it clear that the longer I don’t pay, the more money they will want to unlock my computer,’’ he said.

“It’s extremely frustrating. We are a small family business, and while I don’t like being held to ransom, I really want to see them hunted down because they shouldn’t be allowed to get away with this.”

But the owner of Stanthorpe company Border Refrigeration and Air Conditioning gave in to the hackers’ demands, paying an $850 ransom.

“I had no choice because I really needed those files for my business,” said Barbara Marsden, who paid the cyber-criminals in the online currency known as bitcoins.

She said her computer was infected last month when she opened an email similar to that received by XLNT Chauffeurs.

“I paid the money the same day my computer was locked,’’ she said. “Absolutely it’s annoying, but I really believed there was no other option.”

Superintendent Hay warned companies to safeguard their computer systems against the hackers by installing anti-virus software, and by backing up data on secure servers.

“It is vitally important that people do not open or engage with unsolicited emails,’’ he said.

Originally published as Hackers order Queensland businesses to pay up to regain access to their computers