Update on new GPCode

On 26th January, we intercepted a new variant of GPCode, Virus.Win32.GPCode.ac.

This program, like its predecessors, encrypts users’ files. The author of the program demands payment for decrypting the files.

The new variant of GPCode was widely spammed throughout the Russian segement of the Internet. In spite of our warnings not to open attachments to email if you don’t know the sender, we’ve received a large number of reports from infected users.

Yesterday we added decryption for encrypted files to our antivirus databases. However, GPCode uses a number of encryption keys. It may be that some users’ data has been encrypted by keys which we haven’t seen yet. These users therefore won’t be able to use our antivirus to restore their data. We’d therefore urge anyone who’s been hit by this new version of GPCode to contact us.

In conclusion, as we’ve said many times before: sending money to the author(s) of these programs simply provides motivation to create another variant. Don’t ever send money to a cyber criminal. Send your infected files to us instead.