Ransomware scammers push panic button with bogus claims

Cyber extortionists shilling “ransomware” have upped the ante by pushing users’ panic buttons with claims that their malware will wipe hard drives, a security firm said Monday. The claim is bogus, said Symantec, and is simply a ploy by scammers preying on people’s fears. “This is an attempt to extort money from computer users by taking advantage of human weakness when under panic and pressure,” wrote Symantec researcher Jeet Morparia in a Dec. 24 blog post. ...