If you receive an email purportedly from Australia Post (with their logo) which states that an attempt to deliver a parcel yesterday was unsuccessful and that you need to either click the link in the email or copy the hyperlink into your browser in order to obtain the advice label to collect it from the post office... DON'T CLICK ANYTHING!

The email looks very authentic but the link downloads a zip file which if extracted can encrypt random files in your computer (in my case 30,000) This virus is called ransomware and the only way to restore your files is to pay a $500 or so ransom and the perpetrators will send you a code to un-encrypt your files.

If you are tempted to pay the ransom, bear in mind that they will then also have your payment details (credit card etc).

Files affected are mostly word documents and various files which render installed programs useless, images, audio files etc. The windows folder may become corrupted and your network settings will also be affected.

There will be an ENCRYPTED FILE against all files affected and instructions on how to restore the files.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES OPEN THESE EMAILS OR CLICK ON ANY LINKS> DELETE THE EMAIL OF MARK IT SPAM OR ADD TO YOUR JUNK MAIL SENDER LIST>

anonymous