The Microsoft Tax: Malicious worm on Skype lets hackers hold Windows PCs for ransom; Macintosh unaffected

“Skype is being used by hackers to spread a ‘malicious worm’ that infects Windows PCs and could result in computers being held to ransom,” The Week reports. “The video chat service, owned by Microsoft, said yesterday it was ‘aware of this malicious activity”‘ and warned users not to click on any ‘strange’ or ‘unexpected’ links.”

“A number of users received instant messages saying ‘lol is this your new profile pic?’ By clicking on the link, they unwittingly downloaded a file containing Trojan horse malware,” The Week reports. “The malware allows hackers to hijack infected PCs and recruit them into a ‘botnet army,’ reports the BBC”

The Week reports, “Users can also be locked out of their machines and held to ransom. A message will threaten to delete all the user’s files unless they pay $200 within 48 hours.”

Read more in the full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: Enjoy your Microsoft Tax, Windows sufferers!

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Scott Kopp" for the heads up.]

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