Ransomware Cyberattack on the Rise- Microsoft warns

AP:ASSOCIATED PRESS/The ransomware that was used to attack thousands of organisations

MICROSOFT has issued a chilling warning to governments and businesses around the world following a massive cyber attack over the weekend. The crippling ransomware, which has ripped through 150 countries and already affected some 200,000 computers – including critical NHS systems – is a “wake up call”, the technology giant warned. It told customers to update their computers as millions could be affected by the WannaCry virus today.

Organisations who fail to update their software put themselves or the general public at huge risk, it added.

It also blamed governments for storing these viruses in places where they could be accessed by criminals.

This 24 hour map shows how the WannaCry ransomware spread in just 24 hours

The WannaCry exploits used in the attack were stolen from the US National Security Agency, or NSA.

Brad Smith, Microsoft’s chief legal officer said: “The governments of the world should treat this attack as a wake-up call.

“They need to take a different approach and adhere in cyberspace to the same rules applied to weapons in the physical world.

“We need governments to consider the damage to civilians that comes from hoarding these vulnerabilities and the use of these exploits.

“This is one reason we called in February for a new “Digital Geneva Convention” to govern these issues, including a new requirement for governments to report vulnerabilities to vendors, rather than stockpile, sell, or exploit them.

“And it’s why we’ve pledged our support for defending every customer everywhere in the face of cyber-attacks, regardless of their nationality. This weekend, whether it’s in London, New York, Moscow, Delhi, Sao Paulo, or Beijing, we’re putting this principle into action and working with customers around the world.”

Brit Marcus Hutchins, 22, helped the NHS overcome the attack

Companies have been hiring experts to work around the clock to prevent new infections.

Brit whizzkid Marcus Hutchins, 22, helped slow the virus’ spread by triggering a “kill switch” on Saturday.

By this point, it had already brought chaos to the NHS, as well as a number of banks, factories and schools, by demanding $300 in online currency Bitcoin to unlock infected computers.

The virus exploits old versions of Windows, but despite the fact that Microsoft had no responsibility to do so, its team of experts have spent the weekend working on fixes.

Source: The Sun