Remove Australian Federal Police ransomware

The Australian Federal Police ransomware refers to a screen-locker malware that locks users’ screens and displays a fake law enforcement message claiming users will be charged with several crimes unless they agree to pay a fine. Users are accused of watching/distributing child abuse videos and downloading copyrighted content. The message displayed by the screen locker is completely false, and there’s no need to pay anything.

 

 

Australian Federal Police ransomware is a type of screen locker malware. This kind of screen-locking malware was prevalent in the early days of ransomware, typically displaying messages that claimed the user’s computer was locked by law enforcement due to alleged criminal activity. Users were pressured to pay a fictitious fine to avoid prosecution. While these scams were effective and generated significant income in the past, they have become less common in recent years.

This scam screen locker specifically targets Australian users as it mentions Australian police. It claims that the user’s device has been locked by authorities, specifically by the Australian Federal Police. According to the message, the user is accused of committing illegal activities and faces prosecution unless they pay a fine within 72 hours. The alleged offenses include watching or distributing illegal content (specifically child pornography and bestiality), downloading pirated materials, and other crimes. According to the message, if users want to avoid being charged with several serious crimes, they need to pay as soon as possible.

Regardless of whether they have committed the mentioned crimes, those unfamiliar with such scams might feel intimidated enough to comply and pay the requested money. However, it’s important to understand that paying anything in this situation is a waste of money, as this is nothing more than a scam.

The full contents of the Australian Federal Police ransomware :

ATTENTION! Your PC is blocked due to at least one of the reasons specified below. You have been violating “Copyright and Related Rights Law o (Video, Music, Software) and illegally using or distributing copyrighted content, thus infringing Article 128 of the Criminal Code of Australia.
Article 128 of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of 200 to 500 minimal wages or a deprivation of liberty for 2 to 8 years.
You have been viewing or distributing prohibited Pornographic content (Child Porn/Zoophilia and etc). Thus violating Article 202 of the Criminal Code of Australia. Article 202 of the Criminal Code provides for a deprivation of liberty for 4 to 12 years. Illegal access to computer data has been initiated from your PC, or you have been… Article 208 of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of up to AUD $100,000 and/or a deprivation of liberty for 4 to 9 years.
Illegal access has been initiated from your PC without your knowledge or consent, your PC may be infected by malware, thus you are violating the law On Neglectful Use of Personal Computer.
Article 210 of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of AUD $2,000 to AUD $8,000.
Spam distribution or other unlawful advertising has been effected from your PC as a profit. seeking activity or without your knowledge, your PC may be infected by malware.
Article 212 of the Criminal Code provides for a fine of up to AUD 0250,000 and a deprivation of liberty of up to 6 years. In case this activity has been effected without your knowledge, you fall under the above mentioned article 210 of the Criminal Code of Australia.
Your personality and address are currently being identified, a criminal case is going to be initiated against you under one or more articles specified above within the next 72 hours.
Pursuant to the amendment to the Criminal Code of Australia of February 04, 2013, this law infringement (if it is not repeated. first time) may be considered as conditional in case you pay the fine to the State.
Fines may only be paid within 72 hours after the infringement. As soon as 72 hours elapse, the possibility to pay the fine expires, and a criminal case is initiated against you automatically within the next 72 hours!
The amount of fine is AUD $100. You can pay a fine Ukash. When you pay the fine, your PC will get unlocked in 1 to 72 hours after the money is put into the State’s account.
Since your PC is unlocked, you will be given 7 days to correct all violations.
In case all violations are not corrected after 7 working days, your PC will be blocked again, and a criminal case will be initiated against you automatically under one or more articles specified above.

It’s important to note that law enforcement agencies, regardless of the country, do not lock users’ computer screens if they suspect criminal activity. Additionally, if individuals are suspected of viewing or distributing child pornography or other serious illegal content, they would be immediately arrested rather than just being fined. Therefore, any screen lockers claiming to be from law enforcement are scams.

How did this ransomware enter your computer?

Serious malware infections like ransomware are distributed through several different methods, including email attachments, torrents, vulnerabilities, etc. Users who have poor online habits are much more likely to pick up malicious infections than those who have better habits. Developing better habits is an effective way to prevent future infections.

Ransomware infections are often spread via emails. Malicious files are attached to emails and disguised as important documents, such as order confirmations or receipts. The emails are made to appear like they’re sent by legitimate companies, though whether they’re convincing is another matter. Malware-carrying emails are often full of grammar and spelling mistakes, are sent from fake-looking email addresses, and just generally look unprofessional. If users pay attention, they should be able to identify emails as malicious in most cases. However, some malware distribution campaigns may be more convincing, which is why it’s recommended that all unsolicited email attachments be scanned with anti-virus software or VirusTotal  before they are opened.

Additionally, downloading copyrighted content via torrents can expose users to malware, as torrent sites are frequently poorly monitored, making it easy to upload malware. Torrents, especially those for movies, TV shows, and video games, are often packed with malicious software.

Lastly, keeping software and systems updated is very important, as outdated applications can become vulnerable to malware. Regularly installing updates helps to secure your devices against known threats as those updates patch known threats.

How to remove Australian Federal Police ransomware

To successfully and fully remove  Australian Federal Police ransomware from your computer and close the screen, you need to use an anti-malware program. To bypass the screen lock and be able to use your anti-virus software, you need to boot your computer in Safe Mode. If you try to delete  Australian Federal Police ransomware manually, you could end up causing more damage to your computer.