Facebook and LinkedIn users are having difficult times on their accounts since a new research made by CheckPoint Security have revealed a new cyber attack method being exploited on both social media networks through images infected with the Locky ransomware, which would hijack your computer if you open it.
The Real Problem About The Locky Ransomware
The cyber strike goes like this: Once the Locky ransomware has handled the images your browser will automatically download a maliciously coded image file that will hijack your PC at the moment you open it, and will ask you to pay around a half a bitcoin to unlock your files and regain the normal access to your device. According to Trusted Reviews, the particular detail about this attack, is that although it's not exactly the first time that the Locky ransomware has been used, it never has been delivered to the victims in this way.
The real issue about this kind of strategies is that the Locky ransomware attack has characterized for being really easy to avoid, considering that is always a suspicious thing that most users don´t open it, knowing that because of the appearance, is not precisely something trustful. However, the real problem with doing it this way is that many security apps trust big social networks as Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook, and many people could easily get hit by this attack, giving the fact that most of them are not used to concern about their downloads at these sites.
Facebook Has Denied The Attacks On Its Platform
According to the University Herald, CheckPoint Security has alerted Facebook and LinkedIn about how the Locky ransomware is using its platforms to attack the users, but none of these companies has done any kind of fixes. In fact, a Facebook spokesperson has denied this issue and explained that the problem is not caused by any kind of malware, but from a bad Chrome extension, which spread a scam that allegedly was blocked a few days ago.
Regardless if what Facebook is claiming is right or wrong, it is highly recommended that you don´t click any kind of file you didn´t downloaded because this could be a Locky ransomware that would get you in a very delicate situation. If you don´t know how these files look, you just have to be aware it is downloaded with unusual extensions like JS, SVG or HTA.
