British computer users are being warned of a mass spamming attack that aims to encrypt their computer and extort a £540 ransom – in Bitcoins – to unscramble it.The UK’s National Crime Agency put out an alert on Friday afternoon warning that emails masquerading as communications from banks and financial institutions are being targeted at small and medium businesses, as well as millions of bank customers.
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/15/uk-faces-ransomware-cybercrime-attack