New Malware Asks For Nude Photos, Not Bitcoin

Crime, FinTech, Innovation | September 22, 2017 By:

Vice’s Motherboard site is reporting that a new malware infection is requesting nude pictures from its victims instead of the traditional bitcoin ransom.

Researchers at MalwareHunterTeam, a ransomware watchdog, first spotted what’s being called nRansomware. Once infected, a message pops up on user screens: “Your computer has been locked,” reads the message, and then provides email instructions on next steps.  “After we reply, you must send at least 10 nude pictures of you. After that we will have to verify that the nudes belong to you.”

The message is delivered with a collage featuring beloved children’s character Thomas the Tank Engine and a few choice obscenities.

Researchers believe the malware is a legitimate threat. Its engine, nRansome.exe, is found on public malware repositories. However, the files on computers are not encrypted by the malware, and there are no current reports on any infections.