COMPUTER users in Halton are being warned to step up their security after a virus which holds people to ransom was unleashed on the internet.
Last week a nurse based in the North West started up her computer to find the hard drive erased and a message ordering her to pay cash for a password to unlock its contents.
Police and computer experts warn the new 'Ransomware' viruses are set to explode across the UK and residents who fail to update their virus protection software and firewall leave themselves open to attack.
One version of the virus which has attacked computers abroad is said to demand the user buys drugs from an on line chemist. Another orders the victim to make a cash transfer to an overseas bank account.
The situation could also be a major headache for businesses in Widnes and Runcorn which fail to keep their protection up to date as they could lose access to crucial company files.
And home users could lose access to personal data.
Some versions of the virus are attached to e-mails.
In this latest attack, a 40-year-old nurse who was targeted said she felt 'sick to the core' when she realised what had happened. She lost personal files include family pictures and work she was doing for a nursing degree.
Greg Day, a security expert with virus protection company McAfee, said: 'If people are effectively to protect against these kind of attacks, we would recommend they get good anti-virus software, have a firewall that controls what information people can access on your computer, and keep up to date with the security patches.
'If people find themselves being blackmailed like this they should contact their local police force. They should also contact their software security vendor who might be able to help them recover their work.' adrian.short@cheshirenews.co.uk
