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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/technology/live/2017/may/15/ransomware-attacks-uk-government-defends-investment-in-security-live
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| Ransomware attacks: 29,000 infections in China as working week begins - live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 8.46am BST | |
| 08:46 | |
| Health secretary warned last year of NHS hacking risk - reports | |
| Jeremy Hunt was warned last summer that the NHS was failing to prioritise cybersecurity and continued to use obsolete computer systems, the Times reported. | |
| The Care Quality Commission and Dame Fiona Caldicott, the national data guardian, wrote to the health secretary to point out a worrying “lack of understanding of security issues” and that “the external cyberthreat is becoming a bigger consideration”. | |
| The letter last July proposed a 13-point plan to improve cybersecurity including the replacement of obsolete IT systems “as a matter of urgency”. | |
| 8.23am BST | 8.23am BST |
| 08:23 | 08:23 |
| York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which was hit by the attack on Friday, said some out-patient appointments had been cancelled on Monday - especially at Selby War Memorial Hospital - but most were not affected. | York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which was hit by the attack on Friday, said some out-patient appointments had been cancelled on Monday - especially at Selby War Memorial Hospital - but most were not affected. |
| The trust said bone scan appoints had been cancelled in Scarborough and in Selby: “All outpatient appointments are cancelled except blood-taking and MSK physiotherapy.” | The trust said bone scan appoints had been cancelled in Scarborough and in Selby: “All outpatient appointments are cancelled except blood-taking and MSK physiotherapy.” |
| But it said in a statement: “All outpatient clinics at York Hospital, Malton Hospital, Bridlington Hospital are going ahead. | But it said in a statement: “All outpatient clinics at York Hospital, Malton Hospital, Bridlington Hospital are going ahead. |
| “Planned operations are also going ahead as scheduled.” | “Planned operations are also going ahead as scheduled.” |
| The statement added: “The situation will be reviewed daily and information will be shared regarding any cancellations to appointments and services later in the week. | The statement added: “The situation will be reviewed daily and information will be shared regarding any cancellations to appointments and services later in the week. |
| “There will be some delays to our services as we recover from the effects of the cyber attack, and we ask for people’s patience and understanding as we work to fully restore our systems. | “There will be some delays to our services as we recover from the effects of the cyber attack, and we ask for people’s patience and understanding as we work to fully restore our systems. |
| “We will ensure that we re-schedule any cancelled appointments as soon as possible.” | “We will ensure that we re-schedule any cancelled appointments as soon as possible.” |
| 8.22am BST | 8.22am BST |
| 08:22 | 08:22 |
| Cyber attack hero fears for safety after being named | Cyber attack hero fears for safety after being named |
| The British cybersecurity researcher described as an “accidental hero” for halting the global spread of the ransomware attack has spoken of his fears for his safety after a number of media outlets revealed his identity. | The British cybersecurity researcher described as an “accidental hero” for halting the global spread of the ransomware attack has spoken of his fears for his safety after a number of media outlets revealed his identity. |
| The 22-year-old, who tweets as @malwaretechblog, told the MailOnline: “In future someone might want to retaliate - they could find my identity within seconds. | The 22-year-old, who tweets as @malwaretechblog, told the MailOnline: “In future someone might want to retaliate - they could find my identity within seconds. |
| “If they know where I live, they could really do anything.” | “If they know where I live, they could really do anything.” |
| He referred to the case of another security blogger who was subject to intimidation, including death threats, after his identity was leaked online. | He referred to the case of another security blogger who was subject to intimidation, including death threats, after his identity was leaked online. |
| “I’ve seen posts about the terrible things people have done to him and for me in future it could be the same things,” he said. | “I’ve seen posts about the terrible things people have done to him and for me in future it could be the same things,” he said. |
| Writing on his Twitter account, he said journalists had already tracked down a friend, whose photograph was published in the press and turned up at her house, saying: “Please if you want an interview that badly, DM me.” | Writing on his Twitter account, he said journalists had already tracked down a friend, whose photograph was published in the press and turned up at her house, saying: “Please if you want an interview that badly, DM me.” |
| The online community pleaded for his identity not to be outed online - a research process known as “doxing” - to protect him. | The online community pleaded for his identity not to be outed online - a research process known as “doxing” - to protect him. |
| He earlier told the Guardian: “It just doesn’t make sense to give out my personal information, obviously we’re working against bad guys and they’re not going to be happy about this.” | He earlier told the Guardian: “It just doesn’t make sense to give out my personal information, obviously we’re working against bad guys and they’re not going to be happy about this.” |
| 8.15am BST | 8.15am BST |
| 08:15 | 08:15 |
| Meanwhile in Japan, AP reports the ransomware attack hit computers at 600 locations but appeared to cause no major problems as Japanese started their workday Monday even as the attack caused chaos elsewhere. | Meanwhile in Japan, AP reports the ransomware attack hit computers at 600 locations but appeared to cause no major problems as Japanese started their workday Monday even as the attack caused chaos elsewhere. |
| Nissan Motor Co. confirmed some units had been targeted, but there was no major impact on its business. | Nissan Motor Co. confirmed some units had been targeted, but there was no major impact on its business. |
| Hitachi spokeswoman Yuko Tainiuchi said emails were slow or not getting delivered, and files could not be opened. The company believes the problems are related to the ransomware attack, although no ransom appears to have been demanded so far. They were installing software to fix the problems. | Hitachi spokeswoman Yuko Tainiuchi said emails were slow or not getting delivered, and files could not be opened. The company believes the problems are related to the ransomware attack, although no ransom appears to have been demanded so far. They were installing software to fix the problems. |
| The Japan Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center, a nonprofit providing support for computer attacks, said 2,000 computers at 600 locations in Japan were reported affected so far, citing an affiliate foreign security organization that it cannot identify. | The Japan Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center, a nonprofit providing support for computer attacks, said 2,000 computers at 600 locations in Japan were reported affected so far, citing an affiliate foreign security organization that it cannot identify. |
| At least one hospital was affected, according to police. | At least one hospital was affected, according to police. |
| The city of Osaka said its home page suddenly went blank, although email and other problems had not been detected. | The city of Osaka said its home page suddenly went blank, although email and other problems had not been detected. |
| “We cannot confirm why this happened, and we are in the middle of investigating,” said Hajime Nishikawa of the city hall’s IT division. | “We cannot confirm why this happened, and we are in the middle of investigating,” said Hajime Nishikawa of the city hall’s IT division. |
| 8.12am BST | 8.12am BST |
| 08:12 | 08:12 |
| Global nature of attack comes into focus | |
| As the UK wakes up on Monday braced for fresh impact as NHS returns to work, Chinese state media say more than 29,000 institutions across China have been infected by the global “ransomware” cyberattack, AP reports. | As the UK wakes up on Monday braced for fresh impact as NHS returns to work, Chinese state media say more than 29,000 institutions across China have been infected by the global “ransomware” cyberattack, AP reports. |
| Xinhua News Agency reports that by Saturday evening, 29,372 institutions had been infected along with hundreds of thousands of devices. It cited the Threat Intelligence Center of Qihoo 360, a Chinese internet security services company. | Xinhua News Agency reports that by Saturday evening, 29,372 institutions had been infected along with hundreds of thousands of devices. It cited the Threat Intelligence Center of Qihoo 360, a Chinese internet security services company. |
| It says universities and educational institutions were among the hardest hit, numbering 4,341, or about 15 percent of internet protocol addresses attacked. Also affected were railway stations, mail delivery, gas stations, hospitals, office buildings, shopping malls and government services. | It says universities and educational institutions were among the hardest hit, numbering 4,341, or about 15 percent of internet protocol addresses attacked. Also affected were railway stations, mail delivery, gas stations, hospitals, office buildings, shopping malls and government services. |
| Xinhua says the system used by PetroChina’s gas stations was attacked, meaning customers could not use their cards to pay. Most stations had recovered. | Xinhua says the system used by PetroChina’s gas stations was attacked, meaning customers could not use their cards to pay. Most stations had recovered. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.42am BST | |
| 8.10am BST | 8.10am BST |
| 08:10 | 08:10 |
| Welcome to live coverage of the fallout from last Friday’s ransomware attack. | Welcome to live coverage of the fallout from last Friday’s ransomware attack. |
| Ben Wallace, UK security minister has been on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme defending its record on investment in cyber-security. | Ben Wallace, UK security minister has been on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme defending its record on investment in cyber-security. |
| He said he did not know if the ransomware attack would escalate or stabilise. | He said he did not know if the ransomware attack would escalate or stabilise. |
| Asked if the Government was to blame for cutting budgets, Wallace said reasons for failures to protect against the attack dated back to decisions made by the Labour government in 2007 in relation to agreements with Microsoft. | Asked if the Government was to blame for cutting budgets, Wallace said reasons for failures to protect against the attack dated back to decisions made by the Labour government in 2007 in relation to agreements with Microsoft. |
| Wallace said the Government had committed £1bn to countering cyber threats across all Government. | Wallace said the Government had committed £1bn to countering cyber threats across all Government. |
| “The blame lays with these individuals who have decided to blackmail and destroy our public services,” he said. | “The blame lays with these individuals who have decided to blackmail and destroy our public services,” he said. |
| “We have always said as a Government that if you follow the very basic steps, continue to back yourself up as an organisation, you will always be in a position where a ransomware attack is minimised if not entirely deferred.” | “We have always said as a Government that if you follow the very basic steps, continue to back yourself up as an organisation, you will always be in a position where a ransomware attack is minimised if not entirely deferred.” |