UAE warns users over new ransomware virus
ABU DHABI, June 28, 2017
The UAE's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has warned customers on the updated version of the ransomware "Petya", which started spreading globally on Tuesday and breached thousands of computers and servers around the world.
The breach disabled, encrypted, and locked users from accessing their computers without paying a sum of Bitcoin, and that's when a group of hackers developed a new version of the ransomware "Petya" by exploiting the same gap in the operating system Windows, named ExyernalBlue in the SMBv1 protocol.
This virus restarts the victim's device, encrypts the Master File Table, and exchanges the Master Boot Record with a series of malicious software instructions that shuts down the device.
The TRA Computer Emergency Response Team (aeCERT) announced that there hasn't been any reported cases of breach by this virus in the UAE.
As a precautionary measure, the TRA has called upon customers to use only the original anti-virus programs and also update the software of all their personal devices. It urged them to keep a backup copy of all their mails.
The UAE telecom watchdog warned customers from opening any emails from unknown source and also to avoid surfing untrusted sites.
In case of exposure to the virus, the TRA said the victims must immediately alert the Information Technology department in their offices or the authorised agent if it's a personal laptop.
The regulator urged people not to obey the hackers as there was no guarantee that paying the ransom will lead to the decryption of the files.-TradeArabia News Service
