Beware of CryptoWall, a Virus That Knocked Out a Police Department's Computers

A piece of ransomware called CryptoWall is currently making the rounds on the Internet. This type of virus allows those who are affected to remove the threat by paying a ransom. While the virus has been written off as not dangerous, it took down a police department overnight. CryptoWall may seem like other ransomware, but it has some larger implications for data security.

According to IT consultant Jesus Vigo on TechRepublic, “CryptoWall is classified as a Trojan horse, which is known for masking its viral payload through the guise of a seemingly non-threatening application or file.