Global ransomware attack causes turmoil

[Scrumptious]

Banks, retailers, energy firms and Kiev airport say they have been targeted by malware attacks.

Companies across the globe are reporting that they have been struck by a major ransomware cyber-attack.
British advertising agency WPP is among those to say its IT systems have been disrupted as a consequence.
The virus, the source of which is not yet known, freezes the user's computer until an untraceable ransom is paid in the digital Bitcoin currency.
Ukrainian firms, including the state power company and Kiev's main airport, were among the first to report issues.
The Chernobyl nuclear power plant has also had to monitor radiation levels manually after its Windows-based sensors were shut down.

"A South Korean hosting firm just paid $1m to get their data back and that's a huge incentive," he said. "It's the biggest incentive you could offer to a cyber-criminal."

The attacks come two months after another global ransomware assault, known as WannaCry, which caused major problems for the UK's National Health Service.

Veteran security expert Chris Wysopal from Veracode said the malware seemed to be spreading via some of the same Windows code loopholes exploited by WannaCry. Many firms did not patch those holes because WannaCry was tackled so quickly, he added.

Ukraine seems to have been particularly badly hit this time round.
Reports suggest that the Kiev metro system has stopped accepting payment cards while several chains of petrol stations have suspended operations.
Ukraine's deputy prime minister has tweeted a picture appearing to show government systems have been affected.
His caption reads: "Ta-daaa! Network is down at the Cabinet of Minister's secretariat."

Originally Published: Tue, 27 Jun 2017 15:47:41 GMT
source (BBC)