Australia’s ABC News is reporting that Australians are paying thousands of dollars to overseas hackers to rid their computers of an unbreakable virus.

There has been a rise in the number of people falling victim to the latest version of an encryption virus which hijacks computer files and demands a ransom be paid to restore them.  Known as “ransomware” it infects computers through programs and credible-looking emails.  It takes computer files and photographs hostage.

More information available via the ABC News web site.

Members are urged to ensure that their computer systems and data are appropriately secured.