Police warning about multi-million-pound virus

Thursday 05 June 2014

Islanders are being warned about a huge computer virus that is expected to hit computers around the world as part of a major co-ordinated attack in the coming days.

The police say that Islanders should update their virus protection software and their operating systems, and that they should make sure that they do not click on any unusual unsolicited links.

The virus – known as GameOver Zeus, P2PZeuS or Cryptolockers – has already been used to steal millions of pounds from millions of victims worldwide. At least 15,000 people in the UK have already fallen victim to the virus, which police say attacks computers by infecting them and then stealing financial and banking information.

PC Jeremy House of the crime reduction unit at Police Headquarters said that Islanders should be extra-careful.

He said: “We would recommend that you scan and clean your computer to protect it, and make sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date, and that your operating system is too.

“Don’t click on any links that look strange or that you were not expecting.

“Those sorts of links - anything unsolicited - are often things you don’t want on your computer. They can be phishing emails or sometimes an email that just says, ‘Hey look at this’”.

Advice on being alert to scams is available via the States of Jersey Police website www.jersey.police.uk, www.getsafeonline.org, or via the Crime Reduction Unit at Police Headquarters on 612345.