If you don’t want people to know that you were searching for “Asian amateurs,” then you might want to be careful what you download. A new type of malware is attacking PCs using file-share sites that grabs your information and publishes your web browsing history to a public website before demanding a ransom fee for its removal. The Japanese trojan is targeting the 200,000 users of a popular file-sharing service called Winni. The virus, known as Kenzero, is being monitored by web security firm Trend Micro in Japan.

When users try to download illegal copies of Hentai (anime) games the virus, nicknamed Kenzero, will infect the users computer by disguising itself as a game installation screen, asking for the users personal details. What happens next is the worst part. The virus will grab screenshots of your web history and then publish your name and web history publicly before sending an e-mail demand for 1500 yen ($15 USD).

Supposedly run by a well known criminal gang, the virus not only demands money, but it also infects your pictures and music before demanding a fee for a decryption key. In Europe, the scam is based on the same principles but instead pops up as a letter from the ICPP copyright foundation demanding $400 payable by credit card.

However, rather than take the money, the outfit sells on the credit card details, said said Rik Ferguson, senior security advisor at Trend Micro.

“If you find you are getting pop-ups demanding payments to settle copyright infringement lawsuits, ignore them and use a free online anti-malware scanner immediately to check for malware,” was his advice.

“And if there’s online content that you want to get hold of, get it from a reputable website – if that means paying that’s what you have to do.”

My advice? Be careful what you download.

(Via BBC)