Data kidnapping is the latest thing

Finding a new way to extort unsuspecting computer users, cases have popped up where hackers encrypt user data such as photos and text documents, demanding $200 for the key to unlock the information.

In one case a user got affected by visiting a website that contained an exploit of a know security hole in Microsoft's internet explorer. But users could just as well get affected through an email worm or by downloading infected software.

The method shows that computer hackers are innovative folk who will constantly come up with new ways to profit from their malware. But I doubt however that this will be the next big thing in computer hacking. Sending money across the world tends to leave a trail.