Starting on Friday, May 12th, a major cyberattack known as WannaCry has been spreading like wildfire around the world infecting hospitals, schools, and transportation systems. Here’s what you should know:
What is WannaCry?
WannaCry is a ransomware, which is a malicious malware that is growing. This bug only needs one computer in the system to put the whole network at risk. It attaches onto files on the device and locks them so they cannot be accessed. The virus requests a payment through Bitcoin to recover these files.
How did this happen?
Many computers running on Windows systems are at risk of ransomware if they have not been updated. The U.S. National Security Agency initially released this information and hackers took advantage of it.
How do I protect my PC/my organization’s computer?
First, you should make sure your system is updated and that your anti-virus system is running. Second, Microsoft responded by creating a new security update to tackle this problem that should be installed immediately. As always, you should be cautious of where you receive and download any attachments or files. An important thing to know is WannaCry can spread over local networks without user interaction. According to experts, disconnecting unprotected machines from the internet is a good idea.
How can I fix this?
You can’t, technically. Decrypting files from ransomware attacks have come a long way, but there is no sure fix. There is always the option of paying the ransom, but there is no proof your files will actually be unlocked.
Is it over?
No. Since the attack has been stopped 2 more forms have been discovered and were not stopped when the original virus was put out. Additionally, there have been reports of a “kill switch” being detected but this is only temporary. This switch slowed the virus down but experts are expecting and preparing for another attack.
Learn how you can keep yourself safe from Ransomware by checking out our previous post.