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NHS cyber-attack: Bosses fear further infections from ransomware | NHS cyber-attack: Bosses fear further infections from ransomware |
(35 minutes later) | |
Patients have been urged to use the NHS "wisely" as it discovers the full impact of Friday's global cyber-attack. | Patients have been urged to use the NHS "wisely" as it discovers the full impact of Friday's global cyber-attack. |
NHS England said there was a "complex emerging picture", amid concerns over thousands of computers being switched back on after the weekend. | NHS England said there was a "complex emerging picture", amid concerns over thousands of computers being switched back on after the weekend. |
Seven trusts out of 47 that were hit are still facing serious issues, but patients have been told to turn up for appointments, unless advised otherwise. | Seven trusts out of 47 that were hit are still facing serious issues, but patients have been told to turn up for appointments, unless advised otherwise. |
Some GPs are asking people to consider whether they really need appointments. | Some GPs are asking people to consider whether they really need appointments. |
The virus that hit the NHS in England and Scotland, known as Wanna Decryptor or WannaCry, has infected 200,000 machines in 150 countries since Friday. | The virus that hit the NHS in England and Scotland, known as Wanna Decryptor or WannaCry, has infected 200,000 machines in 150 countries since Friday. |
'Be patient' | 'Be patient' |
The ransomware, which locks users' files and demands a $300 (£230) payment to allow access, spread to organisations including FedEx, Renault and the Russian interior ministry. | The ransomware, which locks users' files and demands a $300 (£230) payment to allow access, spread to organisations including FedEx, Renault and the Russian interior ministry. |
BBC analysis of three accounts linked to the ransom demands suggests about $38,000 had been paid by Monday morning. | BBC analysis of three accounts linked to the ransom demands suggests about $38,000 had been paid by Monday morning. |
In England, 47 trusts reported problems at hospitals and 13 NHS organisations in Scotland were affected. | |
Some hospitals were forced to cancel treatments and appointments, and divert ambulances to other sites. | Some hospitals were forced to cancel treatments and appointments, and divert ambulances to other sites. |
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt failed to address the NHS cyber-attack issue when he was approached by BBC reporters on Monday morning. | Health secretary Jeremy Hunt failed to address the NHS cyber-attack issue when he was approached by BBC reporters on Monday morning. |
Since the weekend, the NHS said at least seven trusts still required "extra support", which include: | |
Anne Rainsberry, NHS incident director, said pathology services were the most seriously affected, alongside imaging services, such as MRI and CT scans, and X-rays, which transmit images via computers. | Anne Rainsberry, NHS incident director, said pathology services were the most seriously affected, alongside imaging services, such as MRI and CT scans, and X-rays, which transmit images via computers. |
She asked people to think about their needs before heading to hospital or the GP surgery. | |
"Remember that [people] can seek help and advice from a range of other sources, such as pharmacies and NHS 111," Dr Rainsberry said. | "Remember that [people] can seek help and advice from a range of other sources, such as pharmacies and NHS 111," Dr Rainsberry said. |
"Bearing in mind the impact of the global cyber-attack, I would urge people to be patient with [NHS] staff." | |
There is particular concern about the possibility of further cyber-attacks at GP surgeries, many of which were closed over the weekend. | |
Some practices have advised staff due on shift on Monday not to turn computers back on until further notice. | Some practices have advised staff due on shift on Monday not to turn computers back on until further notice. |
The inquest begins... | The inquest begins... |
By Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC technology correspondent | By Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC technology correspondent |
We now know that Friday's ransomware attack was a global cyber-crime, but the most serious impact was here in the UK on the National Health Service. So what made our hospitals so vulnerable? | We now know that Friday's ransomware attack was a global cyber-crime, but the most serious impact was here in the UK on the National Health Service. So what made our hospitals so vulnerable? |
There are plenty of theories - among them that far too many computers in hospitals were running Windows XP. | There are plenty of theories - among them that far too many computers in hospitals were running Windows XP. |
The government warned NHS trusts in 2014 that they needed to move away from XP as rapidly as possible. | The government warned NHS trusts in 2014 that they needed to move away from XP as rapidly as possible. |
But did they? At the end of last year the software firm Citrix said that a Freedom of Information request had revealed that 90% of hospitals still had machines running on Windows XP. | But did they? At the end of last year the software firm Citrix said that a Freedom of Information request had revealed that 90% of hospitals still had machines running on Windows XP. |
Read Rory's full analysis here | Read Rory's full analysis here |
The WannaCry ransomware exploits a flaw in Microsoft Windows first identified by US intelligence. | The WannaCry ransomware exploits a flaw in Microsoft Windows first identified by US intelligence. |
Microsoft said Friday's incident was a "wake-up call" and reiterated that it had released a security update in March to protect computers from the virus. | Microsoft said Friday's incident was a "wake-up call" and reiterated that it had released a security update in March to protect computers from the virus. |
"As cybercriminals become more sophisticated, there is simply no way for customers to protect themselves against threats unless they update their systems," the company said. | "As cybercriminals become more sophisticated, there is simply no way for customers to protect themselves against threats unless they update their systems," the company said. |
Security Minister Ben Wallace has insisted NHS trusts have enough money to protect themselves against cyber attacks. | |
He said the government passes on information about threats to the trusts and asks them to keep their systems up-to-date, but it does not "micromanage it from the desk". | |
The "real key" was whether trusts had regularly backed up data and whether they were installing security patches, he added. | |
'Disappointed' | |
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, acknowledged that the NHS is a vital public service and said all those businesses affected by the virus will "need to learn the lessons" from what has happened. | Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, acknowledged that the NHS is a vital public service and said all those businesses affected by the virus will "need to learn the lessons" from what has happened. |
However, he said he was "disappointed" at the suggestion by some that the problem was down to "NHS manager incompetence". | However, he said he was "disappointed" at the suggestion by some that the problem was down to "NHS manager incompetence". |
Mr Hopson told Radio 4's Today programme that many hospitals use sophisticated technology such as MRI and CT scanners which are "bound to be using old software" because they have a ten-year life expectancy. | Mr Hopson told Radio 4's Today programme that many hospitals use sophisticated technology such as MRI and CT scanners which are "bound to be using old software" because they have a ten-year life expectancy. |
He said hospital bosses had been made aware of the threat and "have been investing and doing what they should to protect their trusts". | He said hospital bosses had been made aware of the threat and "have been investing and doing what they should to protect their trusts". |
The government is insisting that the NHS had been repeatedly warned about the cyber-threat to its IT systems. | The government is insisting that the NHS had been repeatedly warned about the cyber-threat to its IT systems. |
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said £50m of £1.9bn set aside for UK cyber-protection was being spent on NHS systems to improve their security. | Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said £50m of £1.9bn set aside for UK cyber-protection was being spent on NHS systems to improve their security. |
Government cuts? | Government cuts? |
But Labour criticised the Conservatives, saying they had cut funding to the NHS's IT budget and a contract to protect computer systems was not renewed after 2015. | But Labour criticised the Conservatives, saying they had cut funding to the NHS's IT budget and a contract to protect computer systems was not renewed after 2015. |
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth also pointed to a report from the National Audit Office six months ago. | Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth also pointed to a report from the National Audit Office six months ago. |
It highlighted how, in February 2016, the Department of Health had "transferred £950m of its £4.6bn budget for capital projects, such as building works and IT, to revenue budgets to fund the day-to-day activities of NHS bodies". | It highlighted how, in February 2016, the Department of Health had "transferred £950m of its £4.6bn budget for capital projects, such as building works and IT, to revenue budgets to fund the day-to-day activities of NHS bodies". |
Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning | Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning |
Are you a patient or an NHS employee? Are you still being affected by the cyber attack and its aftermath? Share your story with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you a patient or an NHS employee? Are you still being affected by the cyber attack and its aftermath? Share your story with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |