Malware Forces Tennessee Sheriff To Pay Ransom

The Dickson County Sheriff’s Office in Middle Tennessee ended up paying a ransom after a malicious computer program blocked access to their files. Detective Jeff McCliss told WTVF-TV that malware on a computer locked the agency’s case files, which included autopsy reports, witness statements and crime scene photos. He says the malware, called "Cryptowall," doesn’t tamper with files on a computer, but keeps them locked until a ransom is paid.