The Archiveus trojan password

Virus analysts at Sophos, the online security company, have cracked the Arhiveus trojan, a piece of malicious software that held victims’ files to ransom. According to the company, the password that will free the encrypted files is: mf2lro8sw03ufvnsq034jfowr18f3cszc20vmw.

"The Arhiveus password is deliberately long and complicated in an attempt by the hackers to avoid people easily cracking it," Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos, said. "Now the password has been uncovered, there should be no reason for anyone hit by this ransomware attack to have to make any payments to the criminals behind it."

The program worked by encrypting data found on the victim’s hard disk and then demanding money in return for the password. "Companies that have made regular backups may be able to recover easily, but less diligent home users could be panicked into coughing up the cash," Mr Cluley said.