As if encrypting files and holding them hostage is not enough, cybercriminals who create and spread crypto-ransomware are now resorting to causing blue screen of death (BSoD) and putting their ransom notes at system startup—as in, even before the operating system loads.Imagine turning on your computer and instead of the usual Windows icon loading, you get a flashing red and white screen with a skull-and-crossbones instead.Petya’s red skulls-and-crossbones warning This is the routine of a new crypto-ransomware variant dubbed “Petya” (detected by Trend Micro as RANSOM_PETYA.A).Not only does this malware have the ability to overwrite the affected system’s master boot record (MBR) in order to lock users out, it is also interesting to note that it is delivered to victims via a legitimate cloud storage service (in this case, via Dropbox).We do note that this isn’t the first time that malware has abused a legitimate service for its own gain; however, this is the first time (in a long time) that leads to crypto-ransomware infection.

It is also a departure from the typical infection chain, wherein the malicious files are attached to emails or hosted in malicious sites and delivered by exploit kits.free bitcoin sms alertReportedly, Petya is still distributed via email.bitcoin authority in indiaVictims would receive an email tailored to look and read like a business-related missive from an “applicant” seeking a position in a company.bitcoin farm islandIt would present users with a hyperlink to a Dropbox storage location, which supposedly would let the user download said applicant’s curriculum vitae (CV).bitcoin is getting flushedIn one of the samples we analyzed, the Dropbox folder the link points contains two files: a self-extracting executable file, which purports to be the CV, and the applicant’s photo.bitcoin poker pool

Further digging revealed that the photo is a stock image that is most likely used without permission from the photographer.Contents of the Dropbox folder Of course, the file downloaded isn’t actually a resume at all, but rather a self-extracting executable file which would then unleash a Trojan onto the system.bitcoin wallet coin controlOnce executed, Petya overwrites the MBR of the entire hard drive, causing Windows to crash and display a blue screen.bitcoin pool macThis is also Petya’s way of getting around security products.bitcoin na zlotowkiShould the user try to reboot his PC, the modified MBR will prevent him from loading Windows normally and instead greet him with an ASCII skull and an ultimatum: pay up with a certain amount of bitcoins or lose access to your files and computer.track bitcoin confirmations

Another thing to point out here is that the edited MBR also disallows restarting in Safe Mode.The user is then given explicit instructions on how to do this, just like any crypto-ransomware currently making the rounds: a list of demands, a link to the Tor Project and how to get to the payment page using it, and a personal decryption code.PETYA’s decryption and ransom payment instructions Looking at its very professionally-designed Tor website, we discover that its ransom price is currently at 0.99 Bitcoins (BTC), or US$431 – and that said price would be doubled if the on-screen deadline for payment is missed.PETYA’s deep website Trend Micro endpoint solutions such as Trend Micro™ Security,  Smart Protection Suites, and Worry-Free™ Business Security can protect users and businesses from this threat by detecting malicious files, and email messages as well as blocking all related malicious URLs.Update as of March 28, 2016, 12:30 A.M.PDT: We informed Dropbox about the malicious files hosted on their service when this entry was published.

They have now removed the file in question, along with other links that stored the same file.They also issued this statement: We take any indication of abuse of the Dropbox platform very seriously and have a dedicated team that works around the clock to monitor and prevent misuse of Dropbox.Although this attack didn’t involve any compromise of Dropbox security, we have investigated and have put procedures in place to proactively shut down rogue activity like this as soon as it happens.We would like to thank Dropbox for their quick response to this incident.I hate Bitcoin Billionaire [Free] for existing.It's an idle clicker game, where tapping the screen gets stuff that can be spent on other stuff, but I've spent way too much time playing this.I've mined way too many fake bitcoins to be proud of myself in any way.I've had fun, and this game provides some real excitement and does so in a way that can be played for free with innovative incentivized advertising, but again, I feel kind of ashamed about it.

Genuinely, it deserves five stars for excellence at what it is, but perhaps one star out of spite for existing.How Bitcoin Billionaire works is that it's about mining fake bitcoins by tapping the screen rapidly to mine them.Then, those bitcoins are spent on investments which get increasingly ridiculous, going from comic books to hyperloops.As well, the miner tool can be upgraded to later levels, which mines more bitcoins per tap.And this all happens while the house the miner sits in gets more ornate and ridiculous, while they sit there tapping away at the keyboard, watching the bitcoins come in.There's fake news that runs across the top of the screen parodying games and tech, and the silliness of you, mining bitcoins.The clicker genre is fascinating to me, in part because it manages to distill what a game is down to a very simple set of circumstances: the challenge is literally how much you can click in order to get more of the game's currency, which you then spend to make it faster.Most games are less blatant about this being their loops, but clickers wear it on their sleeve.

They're about satisfaction and yearning for more of it, and they don't mask it in any way.Heck, Bitcoin Billionaire wears it on its sleeve, making its fake currency about mining (fake) bitcoins.Sadly, we probably won't see a clicker game about mining a real cryptocurrency any time soon, at least on iOS.There was Super Doge on Google Play for a short while.I think that the clicker genre requires a certain mindset to enjoy, the acceptance of the idea that a video game can be about the minimum requirements at all to be a 'game' in any way!But even then, I think I enjoy the absolute lack of barrier to entry.I can pick up Bitcoin Billionaire and play it right away.I can play it casually while watching TV, or read something on the internet while idly tapping, though the game rewards focused play through the random events and the boxes that drop in.As well, multitouch tapping is supported, so you can put some effort into getting those fake bitcoins.Perhaps it's the utter lack of commitment that I enjoy so much that allows me to dive in completely.

I feel just a bit confused by that, honestly.I know how stupid and shallow it is, but I can't stop caring about it.Bitcoin Billionaire is free-to-play, but is definitely a game that can be played without spending a dime or even watching a single ad, it'll just require slower progression.There's a two-tier currency system, but the hard currency, hyperbits, are given out for free, 25 per day.There's incentivized video ads for a number of purposes, but there's also incentivized banner ads, where displaying banners for a certain amount of time will grant a reward similarly to the video ads, like a coin burst based on investment earnings, or bonus tapping rates.The random events that pop up can be enhanced if positive or bypassed if negative by watching a video ad or paying 2 hyperbits.As far as what actual money can be spent on, these include hyperbits which can be exchanged for bitcoins or supercharged boosts.There's an Auto Miner available so you can tap and hold in order to mine bitcoins.

There's a coin doubler and a daily hyperbit doubler.You can also buy a cat for $0.99 or 50 hyperbits.Subscribe to the TouchArcade YouTube channel But really, the game doesn't require spending anything on it, it's literally only to speed up progression, which is what this game is all about.The fun is in watching the numbers get higher and buying things to make the game progress faster.The hyperbits are pretty much the only paywall of any sort, as once you run out of the daily allotment, and if you run out of ads to watch, then you'll either have to pony up for more hyperbits or suffer the negative consequences of the random events when they happen.So if you want faster progression without setbacks, well, Noodlecake is happy to take your money.This is truly a free-to-play game, though I admit I have spent a couple of dollars on this.Again, I'm ashamed because I know this game's tricks, I know it's meant to be as shallow as possible and yet I can't stop playing.It's amusing and well-made and I either highly recommend playing it or staying far, far away.