Blackmailware publishes your web history, then wants your money

A new type of malware basically blackmails PC users - publishing their web browsing history and then asking for money to take it down again. Photo / Natalie Slade

Some Cybercrooks are taking a slightly different approach to malware - hijacking PC users' web history and publishing it.

Users are then forced to pay a fee for the potentially embarrassing information to be removed.

The blackmail trojan accesses computers using dicey files loaded on the Winni file-sharing service, which boasts nearly 200 million users.

The virus, called Kenzero, targets those downloading illegal copies of Hentai games, according to a BBC report.

It is activated by a spoof game installation screen, which requests the PC user's details before stealing their web history and publishing it online in their name.

An email or pop-up then demands a credit card payment to "settle your violation of copyright law" and get the page deactivated, the report said.

About 5500 people have admitted to being duped by the scam.

The criminal gang involved had also been associated with the Koobface worm and Zeus Trojan, according to Trend Micro security advisor Rik Ferguson.

He told BBC that Kenzero was a similar idea to ransomware, which locks users out of their own documents before demanding a fee for a decryption key, which had to be paid by credit card.

Users credit card details, not surprisingly, were then sold off to other cybercriminals.

- NZ HERALD STAFF