This is a special warning going out to everyone, please be careful of opening email attachments and links via email as well as instant messenger and social media.

There is a new malware variant making the rounds called Cryptolocker.  Why is it so dangerous?  It encrypts or locks your data away with a special key that you have no access to and only the bad guys know what that key is.  They are holding your data for ransom in the amount of $300.00.  Currently there is absolutely NO way to bypass or reverse the damage done.  If you do not have a current backup of your data you will have to shell out the $300.00 to these criminals in unknown areas/countries.  They exist outside the jurisdiction of the United States.

Here are a few links to some sites that discuss the malware in detail but please be careful!  We are currently unable to undo the damage that these guys are spreading.

PCRisk article on Cryptolocker
Geek.com article on Cryptolocker
Emisoft article on Cryptolocker