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Ransomware cyber-attack hits 99 countries with UK hospitals among targets – live Ransomware cyber-attack hits 99 countries with UK hospitals among targets – live
(35 minutes later)
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The UK-based cybersecurity researcher credited with helping to stop the spread of the ransomware attack has written an article - How to Accidentally Stop a Global Cyber Attack - explaining what happened on his MalwareTech blog.
My blog post is done! Now you can read the full story of yesterday's events here:https://t.co/BLFORfM2ud
You might need a computer science degree to understand some of it though.
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The digitalhealth.net site reports that some of the disruption to NHS services has been caused by trusts turning computer systems off as a precautionary measure, rather than them being infected by the ransomware.The digitalhealth.net site reports that some of the disruption to NHS services has been caused by trusts turning computer systems off as a precautionary measure, rather than them being infected by the ransomware.
One leading NHS IT director told Digital Health News: “All of the reports on the BBC [about disruption] are directly related to people having shut down networks, nothing to do with the ransomware itself.One leading NHS IT director told Digital Health News: “All of the reports on the BBC [about disruption] are directly related to people having shut down networks, nothing to do with the ransomware itself.
“I know people have been hit, but I fail to see how disconnecting clinical systems from networks helps anyone. If your clinical system can be attacked by ransomware, there is something seriously wrong with its deployment.”“I know people have been hit, but I fail to see how disconnecting clinical systems from networks helps anyone. If your clinical system can be attacked by ransomware, there is something seriously wrong with its deployment.”
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Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer at Helsinki-based cyber security company F-Secure, says the attack is “the biggest ransomware outbreak in history”, affecting 130,000 systems in more than 100 countries.Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer at Helsinki-based cyber security company F-Secure, says the attack is “the biggest ransomware outbreak in history”, affecting 130,000 systems in more than 100 countries.
He says that Russia and India were hit particularly hard, partly because the older Windows XP operating system is still widely used in the countries.He says that Russia and India were hit particularly hard, partly because the older Windows XP operating system is still widely used in the countries.
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German rail operator Deutsche Bahn said its systems were infected as part of the global cyber attack that has wreaked havoc in almost 100 countries.German rail operator Deutsche Bahn said its systems were infected as part of the global cyber attack that has wreaked havoc in almost 100 countries.
Although train services were not disrupted, some arrivals and departures boards at stations had been affected.Although train services were not disrupted, some arrivals and departures boards at stations had been affected.
Pictures posted online by travellers showed red windows appearing on announcement boards with a message demanding payment to restore access. Deutsche Bahn said it was working to rectify the problem.Pictures posted online by travellers showed red windows appearing on announcement boards with a message demanding payment to restore access. Deutsche Bahn said it was working to rectify the problem.
German interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said government computer systems were not affected.German interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said government computer systems were not affected.
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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also responded to the attack:Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also responded to the attack:
What we’ve now got is a bunch of 21st Century highway robbers that have hacked into our NHS and are basically offering protection money to get the information back in order to treat cancer patients or anybody else. It’s unbelievably disgusting and I’ve got nothing but contempt for those people that have done it, and I’m sure all of you would share that.What we’ve now got is a bunch of 21st Century highway robbers that have hacked into our NHS and are basically offering protection money to get the information back in order to treat cancer patients or anybody else. It’s unbelievably disgusting and I’ve got nothing but contempt for those people that have done it, and I’m sure all of you would share that.
But I’m also very angry that in 2014, there was a one-year renewal of the protection system on the NHS systems which was not renewed after that and not renewed the year after that and so are systems are now not upgraded and not protected. As a result, we’ve got this dreadful situation that NHS workers are facing today.But I’m also very angry that in 2014, there was a one-year renewal of the protection system on the NHS systems which was not renewed after that and not renewed the year after that and so are systems are now not upgraded and not protected. As a result, we’ve got this dreadful situation that NHS workers are facing today.
And so we obviously support our NHS workers but I tell you this, a Labour government would not leave our NHS’s very vital information systems unprotected. We would protect them.”And so we obviously support our NHS workers but I tell you this, a Labour government would not leave our NHS’s very vital information systems unprotected. We would protect them.”
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Labour said there have been repeated warnings about the vulnerability of the outdated NHS systems, including from the National Cyber Security Centre and the National Crime Agency.Labour said there have been repeated warnings about the vulnerability of the outdated NHS systems, including from the National Cyber Security Centre and the National Crime Agency.
Many had been left “extremely vulnerable” to an attack since 2015, when they continued to use an outdated version of Windows after a security package had been stopped, Jon Ashworth said.Many had been left “extremely vulnerable” to an attack since 2015, when they continued to use an outdated version of Windows after a security package had been stopped, Jon Ashworth said.
“NHS Trusts have been running thousands of outdated and unsupported Windows XP machines despite the Government ending its annual £5.5m deal with Microsoft, which provided ongoing security support for Windows XP, in May 2015,” the shadow health secretary wrote in his letter to Jeremy Hunt.“NHS Trusts have been running thousands of outdated and unsupported Windows XP machines despite the Government ending its annual £5.5m deal with Microsoft, which provided ongoing security support for Windows XP, in May 2015,” the shadow health secretary wrote in his letter to Jeremy Hunt.
“It effectively means that unless individual trusts were willing to pay Microsoft for an extended support deal, since May 2015 their operating systems have been extremely vulnerable to being hacked.”“It effectively means that unless individual trusts were willing to pay Microsoft for an extended support deal, since May 2015 their operating systems have been extremely vulnerable to being hacked.”
A freedom of information request in February found that 79 English NHS trusts had suffered ransomware attacks since June 2015, Ashworth said.A freedom of information request in February found that 79 English NHS trusts had suffered ransomware attacks since June 2015, Ashworth said.
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Labour accuses Hunt over NHS attackLabour accuses Hunt over NHS attack
Labour has accused Jeremy Hunt of ignoring “extensive warning signs” before the unprecedented cyber attack that has plunged the NHS into chaos.Labour has accused Jeremy Hunt of ignoring “extensive warning signs” before the unprecedented cyber attack that has plunged the NHS into chaos.
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said concerns were repeatedly flagged about the NHS’s outdated computer systems, which left it vulnerable to the virus.Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said concerns were repeatedly flagged about the NHS’s outdated computer systems, which left it vulnerable to the virus.
In a letter to Hunt on Saturday he wrote: “As Secretary of State, I urge you to publically outline the immediate steps you’ll be taking to significantly improve cyber security in our NHS. The public has a right to know exactly what the Government will do to ensure that such an attack is never repeated again.”In a letter to Hunt on Saturday he wrote: “As Secretary of State, I urge you to publically outline the immediate steps you’ll be taking to significantly improve cyber security in our NHS. The public has a right to know exactly what the Government will do to ensure that such an attack is never repeated again.”
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Nissan's Sunderland plant affectedNissan's Sunderland plant affected
The huge Sunderland car factory owned by Nissan has been struck by the cyber attack, halting production at 5pm on Friday.The huge Sunderland car factory owned by Nissan has been struck by the cyber attack, halting production at 5pm on Friday.
A Nissan spokesman told Newcastle’s ChronicleLive: “Like many organisations, our UK plant was subject to a ransomware attack affecting some of our systems on Friday evening. Our teams are working to resolve the issue.”A Nissan spokesman told Newcastle’s ChronicleLive: “Like many organisations, our UK plant was subject to a ransomware attack affecting some of our systems on Friday evening. Our teams are working to resolve the issue.”
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It’s worth remembering that back in February 2016 a Californian hospital paid $17,000 in bitcoin after hackers installed a virus on its computer systems that encrypted their computer files.It’s worth remembering that back in February 2016 a Californian hospital paid $17,000 in bitcoin after hackers installed a virus on its computer systems that encrypted their computer files.
Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center lost access to its computer systems on 5 February. Almost two weeks later the hospital said it had paid up to regain access to its data.Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center lost access to its computer systems on 5 February. Almost two weeks later the hospital said it had paid up to regain access to its data.
The move was one of the most high-profile examples of a hacking victim paying the fee for so-called ransomware.The move was one of the most high-profile examples of a hacking victim paying the fee for so-called ransomware.
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BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones tweets:BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones tweets:
Love the fact that the hero who stopped the ransomware spreading regards it as almost accidental! https://t.co/fqlnhBXYTqLove the fact that the hero who stopped the ransomware spreading regards it as almost accidental! https://t.co/fqlnhBXYTq
I will confess that I was unaware registering the domain would stop the malware until after i registered it, so initially it was accidental.I will confess that I was unaware registering the domain would stop the malware until after i registered it, so initially it was accidental.
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French carmaker Renault is the first French firm to be hit by the global cyberattack, management said on Saturday.French carmaker Renault is the first French firm to be hit by the global cyberattack, management said on Saturday.
“Work is going on since last night. We are doing what is needed to counter this attack,” a spokesperson said.“Work is going on since last night. We are doing what is needed to counter this attack,” a spokesperson said.
“The problems were mainly related to France, where some of Renault’s factories also faced a malfunctioning of certain parts of its information system,” she added.“The problems were mainly related to France, where some of Renault’s factories also faced a malfunctioning of certain parts of its information system,” she added.
The attack has also halted production at Renault’s Revoz subsidiary in Slovenia after computer systems were hit.The attack has also halted production at Renault’s Revoz subsidiary in Slovenia after computer systems were hit.
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The Guardian’s Samuel Gibbs reported in May 2015 that the Government Digital Service had decided not to continue its £5.5m deal with Microsoft to extend support for Windows XP. That decision left government computers still running on the obsolete operating system at risk from hackers and may be one reason why some NHS trusts fell victim to the attack on Friday.The Guardian’s Samuel Gibbs reported in May 2015 that the Government Digital Service had decided not to continue its £5.5m deal with Microsoft to extend support for Windows XP. That decision left government computers still running on the obsolete operating system at risk from hackers and may be one reason why some NHS trusts fell victim to the attack on Friday.
The service said ending the support meant “weaknesses that are found in unsupported products will remain unpatched and will be exploitable by relatively low-skilled attackers”.The service said ending the support meant “weaknesses that are found in unsupported products will remain unpatched and will be exploitable by relatively low-skilled attackers”.
Microsoft withdrew its extended support programme for Windows XP, its 14-year-old operating system, in April 2014. Given the number of Windows XP PCs still being used in government and businesses at the time, Microsoft provided paid-for extended support on a one-off basis.Microsoft withdrew its extended support programme for Windows XP, its 14-year-old operating system, in April 2014. Given the number of Windows XP PCs still being used in government and businesses at the time, Microsoft provided paid-for extended support on a one-off basis.
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