In case you have not yet heard, there was a massive ransomware attack that took place on Friday. Criminal hackers have released a new strain of ransomware that spreads automatically across all workstations in a network and has caused a global epidemic. If you or a co-worker are not paying attention and accidentally open one of these phishing email attachments, you will infect not only your own workstation, but everyone else on your network, too.
The attack has infected thousands of machines worldwide. Companies like FedEx, Renault, and Nissan as well as Russian banks, gas stations, and telecommunications firms have reported that up to 83% of their systems have been shut down from the cyberattack. In the UK, there were dozens of hospitals shut down. There have been over 150 countries affected with the number only expected to rise today with China already reporting over one million machines infected.
It’s called “WannaCry”
It locks down all the files on the infected computer and asks you to pay a ransom to regain control. It infiltrates the network through computers missing a two-month old Microsoft patch from March, 2017.
How They’re Doing It
The hackers are using a NSA 0-day threat that was exposed and used to create a ransomware strain that replicates itself like a worm and takes over an entire network. It is equipped to automatically start scanning for computers on the network that it can infect. This means that if you are using a public network—at a coffee shop, for example—be particularly careful because if someone else sharing that network were to be infected, it will infect you too.
How to Protect Yourself
We recommend taking immediate action and ensuring that your systems have been patched to protect your network from WannaCry. Consumers who have up-to-date software are more likely to be protected.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact us.
Stay Safe,
SWK Technologies