Cryptolocker shrinks ransom as Bitcoin bubble grows
Criminals running the Cryptolocker scam have become the latest victim of the Bitcoin bubble.
New versions of the malware have been shown by anti-virus firm F-Secure as having a lower ransom demand than previously.
The relatively new breed of malware known as "ransomware" works by encrypting files on an infected computer and issuing a demand for payment in Bitcoins to unencrypt them before a deadline, after which the price skyrockets. Some victims have reported that despite paying the fee their files have been crunched anyway, and early attempts to disinfect machines have tripped booby traps that caused file destruction.
