Your computer is Locked

[Pontius Navigator]

Had a potentially heart stopping moment yesterday. I mistyped a URL. Instead of the page opening or not being found a number of strange URL flashed though the address bar.

Then instead of a normal browser window opening a number of lurid graphics messages opened in short order and occupied the whole screen.

The top message was that my computer had been locked (true) as there had been an attempt to..... Or whatever. I was NOT to reboot but to ring a mobile number starting 0744 but I didn't note the rest.

I rebooted and everything reverted to normal.

Obviously a ransom type attack but rebooting worked.

[fin]

I'd run a virus check as well and perhaps a system restore to an earlier date.

[Pontius Navigator]

fin, no need for a restore but I did run a full scan, took about 12 hours as is covered the onboard HDD and a 1Tb backup drive and included the backup archives.

The screen just filled with large eye catching graphics and designed to instill shock and awe.

[Boac]

Don't forget a boot-time scan.

[Pontius Navigator]

I did that too.