ALERT: Major websites hit by dangerous "malvertising" ransomware. Pay up, or you don't get into your files!

[link to www.cnet.com]

The New York Times, BBC, and some other major websites were hit by dangerous ads called "malvertising" ransomware.

It could infect your computer just by visiting the site. You do not even have to click on the ads.

Surfing the net may put your computer hostage and demand you pay up.

If you do not, you will not be able to get into your files.


LINK: The attack on the media sites was delivered through multiple ad networks, and it targeted security holes in out-of-date versions of Silverlight, Flash and other software, according to the researchers.

The ransomware didn't require visitors to the websites to interact with the ads, according to Malwarebytes Senior Security Researcher Jerome Segura, and it was aimed at visitors with outdated programs.

"People think you have to click on the ad for something bad to happen, but that's not the case," Segura said. "The malicious activity takes place in a few seconds."

The attack lasted about 24 hours and was mostly cleared up by Monday evening as the ad networks responded.



[link to www.youtube.com (secure)]