TeslaCrypt Targets Gaming Files

TeslaCrypt was the first ransomware to actively target PC video game files. The malware would encrypt data files from games like Call of Duty, Dragon Age, Minecraft, Diablo, and more - being distributed from a compromised website that redirects visitors to the Angler exploit kit using a Flash clip. The malware typically locks the victim's system, demanding payment and explaining that the user's files have been encrypted.

FBI Warns of Sharp Rise in Ransomware Cases

In 2015, the FBI’s Internet Crime Report noted that there were 2,453 ransomware complaints that year – a steep increase when compared to 2014's total of 1,402. The FBI warned of the uptick in ransomware attacks – stating that when ransomware first hit the scene, computers predominately became infected through e-mail attachments whereas an increasing number of incidents now involve “drive-by” ransomware, where users can infect their computers by simply clicking on a compromised website.