A new kind of malware circulating on the Internet <A HREF="http://www.cio.com/blog_view.html?CID=20646">freezes a computer and then asks for a ransom</A> paid through the Western Union Holdings money-transfer service. A sample of the Trojan horse virus was sent to Sophos, said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant. The malware, which Sophos named Troj/Ransom-A, is one of only a few viruses so far that has asked for a ransom in exchange for releasing control of a computer, Cluley said.