Overheard: What to do if your clipboard has been hijacked

“The problem with malware being served through advertisements is starting to become a serious one, with attackers seeming to enjoy it more and more because websites are not rushing to take steps to prevent it.”

Lucian Constantin, Clipboard Hijack Spreads Panic

This particular attack is copying a link to the computer clipboard, which seems to be persistent and cannot be removed by simple means, in most cases a computer reboot being necessary. The link in question redirects the user to a website that promotes a rogue antivirus program that is itself a spyware application.

So what can you do if your clipboard has been hijacked? Shut down your computer immediately and wait 30 seconds before rebooting.