Windows 10: email scam “stuffed” with dangerous ransomware

The worldwide debut of Windows 10 seems to have generated great anticipation and curiosity. It’s no coincidence that the download volume of Microsoft’s new operating system continues to grow at a high rate.
Precisely because Windows 10 is being talked about a lot these days, the world of cybercrime has not been idle and has exploited the positive trend to carry out a series of new attacks.
A scam is indeed spreading very rapidly, circulating through fake emails.
A real scam that offers the download of Windows 10, completely for free.
The alarm was raised by the Cisco tech team, who, after receiving and analyzing the email, released useful information to avoid falling for the scam.
The incriminating email has the sender address “update@microsoft.com” and the subject “Windows 10 Free Upgrade.”
Inside the text, it is explained that Microsoft is writing and that through the email you can proceed to download a free version of Windows 10.
Attached is a file named “Win10Intaller.zip”: in reality, it is a CTB-Locker type ransomware that, once launched, “kidnaps” certain files on the unfortunate victim’s PC and then demands a ransom.
An alert will appear on the screen – visible in the photo accompanying this article – informing you that to regain free access to your documents, you will need to pay a certain sum in Bitcoin.
To regain access to the content of your PC, you will have only 96 hours to pay what is configured as a real ransom.
Cisco labs have determined that the email was processed and sent from an IP address hosted in Thailand.

So, what should you do if you receive this email?
What is recommended is, first and foremost – and without delay – to delete any emails with the aforementioned elements just described.
Furthermore, it should always be kept in mind that Microsoft does not offer any updates via email, so it is entirely impossible for campaigns of this kind to be real.
The fraudulent email is probably claiming many victims because Microsoft has decided to “stagger” the updates, creating waiting lists that proceed as the product is downloaded by those who have pre-ordered the download.
Therefore, you will only need a little patience to gain access legally and, above all, completely securely to your copy of Windows 10.