The Register is reporting on a new variant of the Cryptowall ransomware that is spread through advertising networks. These ads are approved by the network (Yahoo, Google, etc.) and only require that they be displayed on the site (they do not require that you actually click on them).
If you are not familiar with Cryptowall, it is a ransomware program that will encrypt all your personal files and then require a payment in order to obtain the encryption key to unencrypt the files. While antivirus software may be able to remove Cryptowall from your system, it will not be able to decrypt your files.
Since Cryptowall (and other malware served through advertising) can get on your computer simply by being chosen to receive the malicious advertisement, the best thing you can do to prevent it is to install an ad blocker into your preferred browser. Personally, I use Ad Block Plus. You can download it through the add-on manager of your browser or by visiting the website and clicking on the download link. If you use multiple browsers, you will need to install it in each one.
It took me many years to install an ad blocker because I felt that advertising was an important part of maintaining free access to information on the internet. However, the neglect of some advertising companies to screen for malware in their advertisements (this is not the first time an advertising network has propagated malicious advertising) has caused me to rethink my position. Since we cannot control the advertising network sites choose to use or force those networks to implement better screening procedures, we must take whatever steps necessary to protect our computers.
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