New Ransomware Virus Spreading Rapidly (Updated 11/4/13)

     While nearly all virus warnings that you received by e-mail are hoaxes,  here is a legitimate, very serious virus warning.    Do not open any e-mail attachments that look the least bit suspicious.  Do not go to links in an e-mail that is suspicious.  And,  do not go on web sites that might look suspicious.

http://www.komando.com/tips/index.aspx?id=15500&utm_medium=nl&utm_source=alerts&utm_content=2013-10-31-article-1-title-a

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CryptoLocker

Update 11-4-13: At first the criminals behind CryptoLocker said you had four days to pay or your files were locked forever. Now, however, they say that you can get them back even after four days. The catch is that you'll have to pay more than $2,000!

While you might pay this ransom as a last resort, users are reporting that some files will give an error and stay locked. There is no way to recover those files.