SIAE Virus

Posted: July 31, 2012

Threat Metric

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The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.

Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.

% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Ranking:	12,283
Threat Level:	1/10
Infected PCs:	21

First Seen:	July 31, 2012
Last Seen:	October 16, 2023
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

The SIAE Virus is an Italy-specific ransomware Trojan from the Lockscreen family. True to the standards of its family, the SIAE Virus presents itself as a warning from a legitimate agency and claims to have locked down your PC due to detected illegal activities. Although the SIAE Virus warns that you must pay a fine or face heavy legal penalties that can include imprisonment, SpywareRemove.com malware researchers have confirmed that the SIAE Virus is unrelated to the real SIAE and doesn't have any type of legal authority. As a scammer like other Lockscreen-based Trojans, the SIAE Virus always is malicious and should be disabled and deleted by standard anti-malware methods and software.

Why the Real SIAE Washes Its Hands of the SIAE Virus

The SIAE Virus is easily-detectable after its installation due to its display of a pop-up alert that covers your screen, simultaneously blocking you from using the Taskbar, shortcuts or other programs. The SIAE Virus's pop-up uses the logo of the Italian Society for Authors and Publishers but is unaffiliated with that agency. As a recent variant of other members of the Lockscreen family, the SIAE Virus conforms to the behavior of its predecessors by claiming that your PC has been locked due to illegal media-trafficking activities (such as downloading copyrighted music) and insisting that you pay a hundred Euro fine lest you face other legal penalties.

Of course, the SIAE Virus's threats are all bluster, and SpywareRemove.com malware experts note that there's no harm that can come to your PC by ignoring the SIAE Virus's warnings and saving your money. Although the SIAE Virus is designed to attack Italian PC users in particular, other members of the Lockscreen family have been seen attacking other regions. Relatives of the SIAE Virus include the Gema 'Access to your computer was denied' Virus, West Yorkshire Ransomware, International Police Association (I.P.A.) Ransomware and 'Votre ordinateur est bloqué' Belgium Ransomware, the SGAE Virus.

Putting a Safe End to a SIAE Virus's Intellectual Property Hysterics

Although the SIAE Virus and other members of its family are often referred to as viruses, SpywareRemove.com malware research team notes that the SIAE Virus and other Lockscreen-based ransomware Trojans are not actual viruses and, as such, cannot infect other files broadly throughout your hard drive. For their propagation, SIAE Virus and similar PC threats may be installed by Trojan downloaders, Trojan droppers, fraudulent e-mail messages or even drive-by-download attacks.

Because any SIAE Virus will prevent you from using necessary security software while SIAE Virus is open, SpywareRemove.com malware experts recommend booting into Safe Mode or booting from a flash drive. This will block SIAE Virus's startup routine and allow you to scan your PC to remove the SIAE Virus and any related PC threats without complications.

Technical Details

Additional Information

The following URL's were detected:

favosearch.com

The following messages's were detected:

#	Message
1	'Il mancato rispetto di questa richiesta potrebbe comportare imputazioni penali e possitiblita di detenzione. Per esguire il pagamento, inserite il codice Paysafecard aquisito del campo bonifico, selezionate il valore del codice e quindi premete il pulsante “Invia”. SIAE e legittimato dalla legge – ed e in stretto contatto con i legislatori e la Polizia.'
2	'The failure to comply with this request may result in criminal charges and possible detention. To execute the payment, enter the Paysafecard code, highlight the value of the code and then press the "Send" button. SIAE is legitimized by the law and is in close contact with legislators and the Police.'