Ransomware hijacks nurse's PC

A nurse from Rochdale is thought to be one of the first UK victims of a scam that encrypts files on a hard drive and only unlocks them if the user pays a ransom.

Computers infected with 'ransomware' lock users out of their files and leave a note with details of how they can get them back.

In a step more often seen in the movies, the note tells users not to call the police and points them to a site where they can pay the ransom.

Senior sister Helen Barrow was told that she would have to buy goods from an online pharmacy to receive a password that would unlock her files.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the National High Tech Crime Unit is investigating the incident. 

It is thought that the malware could have been downloaded to the PC after Barrow clicked on a fake virus warning.