New Virus Claims FBI "Lockout" of Your Computer

If you get this warning message, here's what you can do to get back to normal operations on your computer.

A new computer virus that claims that the FBI has "locked out" the victim's computer and demands ransom for removing the lock has sprung up in recent weeks. When the virus attacks the computer (in the form of a program known as a "trojan horse"), all functions are placed behind a black FBI warning image, which claims that the computer has been locked because of detected illegal activity. The message goes on to claim that the payment of a $200 fee will remove the lock, and failure to pay the fine may result in jail time. This "ransomware" is an attempt to extort the user; even if the money is sent, the lock is not removed. The "Moneypak Virus" as it is called is extremely difficult to remove from your computer manually; only seasoned …

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bobsegat

9:46 pm on Friday, October 19, 2012

Hey Dave, I just got the virus a day ago and it took me a day to get rid of it. It is actually simple and you don't need an expert to get rid of it. What i did is: 1. alt-ctrl-delete 2. restart computer 3.when starting up, press f8. 4. start computer in safe mode with networking( or something like that) 5. download antvirus. The antivirus I used was norton 360. I know its 40 bucks, but you can do…   more ›

Illinois Man Sentenced for Fake Marietta High Bomb Threat

Valtrez Stewart of Chicago pleaded guilty to mailing false bomb threats to Northview High School, Marietta High School, Stephenson Middle School and Meadowcreek High School.

The man who placed school officials, parents and students in fear by mailing bomb threats to Atlanta area middle and high schools, including Marietta High School, was sentenced Thursday. Valtrez Stewart, 29, of Chicago, pleaded guilty on Jan. 27, 2012, to mailing false bomb threats to Northview High School, Marietta High School, Stephenson Middle School and Meadowcreek High School.          “It is disturbing that this individual threatened children and wasted law enforcement resources as part of his retaliation scheme," Sally Quillian Yates, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, said in a press release. "Every bomb threat is taken seriously and, as the defendant learned today, there are serious consequences whether …

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Daily PatchCast

FBI Investigates OB/GYN Fire; Cemetery Thefts; Welding Training at Chatt Tech

Here is a roundup of news from the area surrounding Marietta on Thursday, May 24.

East Cobb OB/GYN Fire Investigated Arrests Made in Cherokee Cemetery Thefts Welding Training Available at Chatt Tech

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Marietta Man Faked Terror Plot

Henry Guy Jones, 51, will spend almost three years in federal prison as a result.

A Marietta man was sentenced to 34 months in prison Monday for lying to federal investigators about an imaginary terrorist plot to bomb an airliner. Henry Guy Jones, 51, also had to pay a $100 special assessment and will face three years of supervision after his release from prison. “The defendant diverted much-needed federal resources dedicated to address true threats of terrorism to investigate his web of lies,” U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said in a news release. Jones was indicted Nov. 21 and pleaded guilty Jan. 5 in U.S. District Court in Atlanta to making false statements to federal agents. “Lying to federal agents has serious consequences,” Yates said, “particularly when the lies create the impression that terrorists were …

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Marietta Police to Receive Award from FBI

N-DEx brings together data from law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and detects relationships between people, vehicles, property, location and/or crime characteristics.

The Marietta Police Department in conjunction with Marietta’s Department of Information Technology will be presented with an award for being the first agency in the state of Georgia to submit data to the National Data Exchange Program for increment three data submission. After Sept. 11, 2001, the Department of Homeland Security sought out a system to provide better information sharing nationwide among the law enforcement community. The National Data Exchange Program was the answer to that problem. N-DEx brings together data from law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and detects relationships between people, vehicles, property, location and/or crime characteristics.  With N-DEx, investigators have the following tools: The …

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Lawyer Charged with Child Porn

FBI agents arrested Eric Peterson at his Marietta-area home Wednesday.

A Marietta-area lawyer faces a federal child-pornography case, the FBI announced Friday. Eric Peterson, 37, was arrested at his Cobb County home Wednesday on a federal complaint charging him with possession or receipt of child pornography, said Brian Lamkin, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Atlanta field office. Peterson appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gerrilyn Brill in Atlanta on Thursday and was released on bond, the FBI said. The Georgia Bar Association lists one lawyer named Eric Peterson with a Marietta mailing address, a 37-year-old real estate lawyer who lives in East Cobb, although that directory covers only practicing lawyers.

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