DHAKA: The British government has issued an unusually stark warning about a cyberscam that locks users out of their computers unless they pay a ransom, saying that tens of millions of people may soon be targeted.

In a message headlined ‘URGENT ALERT’, Britain’s National Crime Agency said Friday they were aware of a ‘mass email spamming event that is ongoing’ and urged computer users to beware messages purporting to come from their bank.

The scam works by tricking users into downloading CryptoLocker, a piece of malicious software that encrypts a user’s hard drive, effectively scrambling all their personal documents and photos.

A countdown clock appears on the screen warning that the files will be lost irrevocably unless a ransom is paid, typically through hard-to-trace cybercurrencies, The Straits Times publishes this report on Saturday.

BDST: 1453 HRS, NOV 16, 2013
RoR/BSK