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Ransomware attacks in 150 countries

LONDON, May 15, 2017

The WannaCry ransomware attack has continued to spread, impacting over 10,000 organisations and 200,000 individuals in over 150 countries, according to reports.

While measures have been taken to slow the spread of the malware, new variations have begun to surface, said a report on The Verge.

Europol Director Rob Wainwright told the BBC that the cyberattack is “unprecedented in its scale,” and noted that it will likely continue as people return to work on Monday.

While Microsoft took the unusual step to issue a patch for Windows XP, the patch will only work if installed, and authorities have been warning businesses to ensure that their systems are updated.

Meanwhile, Microsoft said governments around the world should treat the attacks as a "wake-up call". It blamed governments for storing data on software vulnerabilities which could then be accessed by hackers.

It says the latest virus exploits a flaw in Microsoft Windows identified by, and stolen from, US intelligence, a BBC report said.

Many firms have had experts working over the weekend to prevent new infections. The virus took control of users' files and demanded $300 (£230) payments to restore access.

The ransomware attack began on Friday afternoon, where it affected England’s National Health Service, prompted automaker Renault to idle factories in France, and many others.




Tags: cyber attack | Ransomware |

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