Telefónica and other firms have been infected by WannaCry NHS malware - Business Insider

There's a massive set of cyberattacks affecting hospitals and telecoms companies across Europe right now — but it isn't clear whether the hacks are connected.Telefónica seems to be the first company affected, after it told employees today to stop working and shut down their computers,according to Spanish newspaper El Mundo.

The NHS in the UK has also been attacked, with at least 15 organisations around the country affected by the attack. Hospitals have been closed and operations cancelled at short notice, and medical staff have resorted to pen and paper to work.

Both NHS and Telefónica confirmed the attacks. They both said they had been hit by versions of the "WannaCry" ransomware — malicious software which encrypts the information on a device, then demands a ransom to return it. According to user reports on Twitter, the ransomware asks users to pay $300 in Bitcoin.

Some 85% of Telefónica's computers have reportedly been affected.

Its been on LBC Radio for last two hours. It would appear that quiet alot if not most of the NHS computer systems are still running on ... WINDOWS XP. I realise Microsoft still patch XP if you pay for it .. but .. not very wise to still have XP puters in a system.

The Ransomware variant is called WANNACRY

Then came this:

An NSA Cyber Weapon Might Be Behind A Massive Global Ransomware Outbreak

It's been a matter of weeks since a shady hacker crew called Shadow Brokers dumped a load of tools believed to belong to the National Security Agency (NSA). It now appears one NSA tool, an exploit of Microsoft Windows called EternalBlue, is being used as one method of spreading a ransomware variant called WannaCry across the world.

The ransomware has hit UK hospitals hard, with multiple sources reporting closures of entire wards and some National Health Service (NHS) staff being sent home.

If you see this screen on your system .. your only hope is that you have a decent recent backup



Word is this is world wide. Main focus is in EUROPE at the moment ..

FEDX have just told their businesses to turn off systems.

https://twitter.com/craiu/status/863076786887852032

So far, we have recorded more than 45,000 attacks of the #WannaCry ransomware in 74 countries around the world. Number still growing fast.

Can these attacks only happen from something you download via web browser or email?

Have recent decent backups is best way to counter a ransoware attack.

Watch what attachments you open, even from trusted senders. Watch what sites you click on OR links you click on at websites, in emails.

For the uninitiated .. Ransomware gets onto your puter and encrypts all your data like Excel, Word files, images etc. Deletes the original, usually deletes itself only leaving behind a ransom note desktop background image and/or a text file demanding ransom for the decrytion key .. call centre phone number supplied. Not a good idea .. BACKUP will save you this.

Ramsomware usually doesnt send the original data off to the hackers.

Skynet is online.

And so it begins...

Originally Posted by Betson

Can these attacks only happen from something you download via web browser or email?

Benson .. it usually arrives via a clicked link at a compromised website or a link in an email. OR can arrive via a clicked / opened email attachment.

Looks like nothing has happened except you might see your harddrive activity light going nuts ( its encrypting your data ). If you see this and suspect it to be a ransomware attack .. PLUG OUT / TURN OFF THE PC and UNHOOK FROM THE NET if via cable .. call your IT peeps, like me

Slightly off the point but what's also worrying is a well known bank is also still operating on Windows XP. I know this because when I went to my local ATM very early one morning 6 months ago and the whole system was just starting up...with Windows XP on the screen.

From SKY ( not skynet )

Originally Posted by Lara2

Slightly off the point but what's also worrying is a well known bank is also still operating on Windows XP. I know this because when I went to my local ATM very early one morning 6 months ago and the whole system was just starting up...with Windows XP on the screen.

Believe it or not Microsoft are still patching XP and earlier op sys'es for large organisations, but of course they pay biggly. Still though, not best approach.

No doubt they have hefty older custom software that would cost way more to replace than paying MS. The bean counters logic ..

Alledgedly .. I heard on LBC earlier that French air traffic control are still using WINDOWS 3.1 on some systems .. now thats scarey!!

If you didnt keep clicking on porn sites this wouldnt happen, folks.

Originally Posted by The Eagle of the Ninth

If you didnt keep clicking on porn sites this wouldnt happen, folks.

While yes, but not always the case. Fake email invoice attachments coming from "trusted" email sender is a big way of getting caught.

Where attachments are concerned the issue is peeps too quick to click and open. What is the safest way is to SAVE the attachment first to a folder on your desktop or elsewhere ( called ATTACHMENTS ). Then with an up to date anti virus, check the file first before opening.

Another infection source is what seems to be a legit site visited BUT in fact it is infected .. this is rarer though!