Kidnapping is much easier to happen than you think.  In this new age, your data can also be held for ransom.

Ransomware and Its Activities
Ransomware, a common cyber threat nowadays, is a malware which stops / limits you from using your computer by encrypting data inside. Victims will then be asked for bitcoins / money to get back the data.
Some new variant of ransomware, CryptXXX & Locky, have recently been spreading through phishing emails and compromised websites. According to Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT) and Hong Kong Police Force, a number of incident reports have been received in early 2016.

Precautions
Until now, there is NO effective method to decrypt kidnapped files. To save your computer from harms, please remember to:

1. Stay alert to suspicious emails.
   • Do not open the attachments, especially compressed files (.zip,.7zip,.rar) or executable files (.exe)
   • Do not follow unsolicited web links in email messages
2. Turn on the system watcher if you are using Kaspersky anti-virus software, which can be downloaded from ITSC homepage (The default setting has the system watcher turned on.). This can help detect the ransomware and protect your computer.
3. Disable macros for MS Office Files (http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/itsc/security/gpis/disablemacros.html).
4. Backup your files regularly and keep them in a safe place to avoid being affected by the malware.
5. Install and maintain up-to-date anti-virus software.
6. Keep your operating system and software updated with the latest patches.

More details can be found in ITSC webpage (http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/itsc/security/gpis/ransomwarealert.html).