Not that I endorse such actions, but this is darn funny!
Online scareware scammers put up ominous looking web pages, which mislead web surfers into thinking they have a computer virus, then sell phony clean-up services to unsuspecting victims. Many times the website appears to freeze the computer and flashes warnings of malware. At the same time, a pop-up appears from a pseudo-security site offering to help. …for a hefty fee.
It is a scam which has been around for years. Most ignore the fake warning and close the browser session with no ill effects. But some fall for the scam and call the ‘help’ number. They are convinced to pay for unnecessary services and software. Sometimes the software they have the victim install will itself do more damage, just so the process can be repeated again and again.
But a French security researcher turned the tables on a scammer by sending him malware.
His parents fell victim to such a site and the security researcher took over. He called the support number and was told he needed to purchase a protection plan for $330. At the point when he was asked to send his credit card information. Instead, he sent an attachment containing the Locky ransomware, which is a nasty bit of malware that probably did a good job of encrypting the important files of their system.
Now, for the record I am not an advocate for hacking-back against fraudsters. Yes, I despise the wretches and want them caught, but committing a crime in retaliation is not something I condone.
That said, I can sure appreciate the irony of this story.
Original News/Image source: https://blog.kwiatkowski.fr/?q=en/node/30
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