Popcorn Time…the First Malware Requiring a Moral Compass
by Jason Engel
Ransomware traditionally has used self-replicating and distributing features written into the malware itself to search out, break into, and infect unsecure devices. The benefits of this are clear…fast and wide malware distribution touching thousands of devices.
Enter stage left, Popcorn Time…the first ransomware, which uses the human victim themselves to find and target additional victims to continue distribution of the malware. The idea is straightforward. When your computer becomes infected, you have four options: 1) Pay the ransom and gain back control of your data, 2) Identify personal contacts you will try to infect in order to have your data released, essentially blackmailing the victim, 3) Call law enforcement for help and hope they have the resources to help, or 4) Do nothing. Looking at these, there are really only two options that will help the victim: Pay out, or provide targets.
This is a game changer as it forces human intervention and moral dilemma to develop calculated targets of contacts they know to be easy victims.
Read more: http://ow.ly/VXSu3087AEJ
