This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
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
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Ransomware attacks: 29,000 infections in China as working week begins - live updates | Ransomware attacks: 29,000 infections in China as working week begins - live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.06pm BST | |
| 13:06 | |
| NHS trusts sent IT security patch that would have protected them | |
| Health trusts across England were sent details of an IT security patch that would have protected them from the crippling ransomware attack, NHS Digital said. | |
| NHS Digital, the arms-length body of the Department of Health that provides information, data and IT systems for the NHS, said it had made health trusts aware last month of IT protection that could have prevented the attack. | |
| It said in a statement: “NHS Digital issued a targeted update on a secure portal accessible to NHS staff on April 25, and then via a bulletin to more than 10,000 security and IT professionals on April 27 to alert them to this specific issue. | |
| “These alerts included a patch to protect their systems. This guidance was also reissued on Friday following emergence of this issue.” | |
| 12.01pm BST | 12.01pm BST |
| 12:01 | 12:01 |
| The French government cyber security agency ANSII knows of “fewer than 10” French companies that have fallen victim to a global hacking attack that hit car factories, hospitals and other organisations in about 100 countries, an ANSII spokesman said on Monday. | The French government cyber security agency ANSII knows of “fewer than 10” French companies that have fallen victim to a global hacking attack that hit car factories, hospitals and other organisations in about 100 countries, an ANSII spokesman said on Monday. |
| 11.39am BST | 11.39am BST |
| 11:39 | 11:39 |
| Where's Hunt? | Where's Hunt? |
| The Prime Minister’s official spokesman has defended health secretary Jeremy Hunt’s lack of public statements or appearances since the cyberattack on Friday. | The Prime Minister’s official spokesman has defended health secretary Jeremy Hunt’s lack of public statements or appearances since the cyberattack on Friday. |
| “This is an international cyber crime, committed on an unprecedented scale. | “This is an international cyber crime, committed on an unprecedented scale. |
| “The Home Secretary has the lead on responding to crime and cyber crime and it is quite right that she should be taking the lead. | “The Home Secretary has the lead on responding to crime and cyber crime and it is quite right that she should be taking the lead. |
| “The Health Secretary has been working round the clock on co-ordinating the NHS response to this, which has been a hugely impressive response. | “The Health Secretary has been working round the clock on co-ordinating the NHS response to this, which has been a hugely impressive response. |
| “Both the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary pass on their thanks to NHS staff who have been working round the clock over this weekend.” | “Both the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary pass on their thanks to NHS staff who have been working round the clock over this weekend.” |
| Home Secretary Amber Rudd is to chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee at the Cabinet Office on Whitehall at 5pm on Monday to assess progress on dealing with the attack. Hunt will not be attending. | Home Secretary Amber Rudd is to chair a meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee at the Cabinet Office on Whitehall at 5pm on Monday to assess progress on dealing with the attack. Hunt will not be attending. |
| 11.15am BST | 11.15am BST |
| 11:15 | 11:15 |
| PM denies claims Government ignored cyber-attack warnings | PM denies claims Government ignored cyber-attack warnings |
| Theresa May has rejected claims the government ignored warnings the NHS was vulnerable to a possible cyber security attack. | Theresa May has rejected claims the government ignored warnings the NHS was vulnerable to a possible cyber security attack. |
| The Prime Minister said warnings had been given to hospital trusts. | The Prime Minister said warnings had been given to hospital trusts. |
| During a visit to Oxfordshire, she insisted cyber security was being taken seriously in Whitehall. | During a visit to Oxfordshire, she insisted cyber security was being taken seriously in Whitehall. |
| Asked if warnings had been ignored, May said: “No. It was clear warnings were given to hospital trusts but this is not something that focused on attacking the NHS here on the UK.” | Asked if warnings had been ignored, May said: “No. It was clear warnings were given to hospital trusts but this is not something that focused on attacking the NHS here on the UK.” |
| May said the Government was putting £2 billion into cyber security. | May said the Government was putting £2 billion into cyber security. |
| She added: “Europol say there are 200,000 victims across the world. | She added: “Europol say there are 200,000 victims across the world. |
| “Cyber security is an issue that we need to address. That’s why the Government, when we came into Government in 2010, put money into cyber security. | “Cyber security is an issue that we need to address. That’s why the Government, when we came into Government in 2010, put money into cyber security. |
| “It’s why we are putting £2 billion into cyber security over the coming years and, of course, created the National Cyber Security Centre. | “It’s why we are putting £2 billion into cyber security over the coming years and, of course, created the National Cyber Security Centre. |
| “We take cyber security seriously.” | “We take cyber security seriously.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.25am BST | at 11.25am BST |
| 11.15am BST | 11.15am BST |
| 11:15 | 11:15 |
| If you paid money as a victim of ransomware we’d like to hear from you. How much were you asked to pay? Why did you decide to pay the ransom? What happened afterwards? We’d also like to hear the experiences of those who paid in other recent attacks.You can share your stories with us - anonymously if you wish - by filling in our form here. | If you paid money as a victim of ransomware we’d like to hear from you. How much were you asked to pay? Why did you decide to pay the ransom? What happened afterwards? We’d also like to hear the experiences of those who paid in other recent attacks.You can share your stories with us - anonymously if you wish - by filling in our form here. |
| 11.04am BST | 11.04am BST |
| 11:04 | 11:04 |
| Few major problems have been reported in India with the hea of the government response team saying “everything seems to be normal, so far”, AP reports. | Few major problems have been reported in India with the hea of the government response team saying “everything seems to be normal, so far”, AP reports. |
| Experts estimated 5% of affected computers were in India, with the Computer Emergency Response Team of India issuing a red-colored “critical alert”. | Experts estimated 5% of affected computers were in India, with the Computer Emergency Response Team of India issuing a red-colored “critical alert”. |
| But few major problems were reported. The head of the government response team told Press Trust of India news agency that “everything seems to be normal, so far. No reports have come in” detailing cyberattacks in the country. | But few major problems were reported. The head of the government response team told Press Trust of India news agency that “everything seems to be normal, so far. No reports have come in” detailing cyberattacks in the country. |
| 10.42am BST | 10.42am BST |
| 10:42 | 10:42 |
| Microsoft’s top lawyer has called on governments around the world to treat the international cyber attack as a “wake-up call” as he laid part of the blame at the door of the US administration, PA reports. | Microsoft’s top lawyer has called on governments around the world to treat the international cyber attack as a “wake-up call” as he laid part of the blame at the door of the US administration, PA reports. |
| Brad Smith, the technology firm’s president and chief legal officer, criticised US intelligence agencies the CIA and the National Security Agency (NSA) for “stockpiling” software code which could be exploited by hackers. | Brad Smith, the technology firm’s president and chief legal officer, criticised US intelligence agencies the CIA and the National Security Agency (NSA) for “stockpiling” software code which could be exploited by hackers. |
| Smith said the “ransomware” attacks had used data stolen from the NSA earlier this year, which contained information on software vulnerabilities the government had hoped to hoard, and subsequently leaked them online. | Smith said the “ransomware” attacks had used data stolen from the NSA earlier this year, which contained information on software vulnerabilities the government had hoped to hoard, and subsequently leaked them online. |
| In a blog post, he said: “An equivalent scenario with conventional weapons would be the US military having some of its Tomahawk missiles stolen. | In a blog post, he said: “An equivalent scenario with conventional weapons would be the US military having some of its Tomahawk missiles stolen. |
| “And this most recent attack represents a completely unintended but disconcerting link between the two most serious forms of cyber security threats in the world today - nation-state action and organised criminal action.” | “And this most recent attack represents a completely unintended but disconcerting link between the two most serious forms of cyber security threats in the world today - nation-state action and organised criminal action.” |
| 10.29am BST | 10.29am BST |
| 10:29 | 10:29 |
| “Hundreds of thousands” of Chinese computers at nearly 30,000 institutions including government agencies have been hit by the global ransomware attack, a leading Chinese security-software provider has said. | “Hundreds of thousands” of Chinese computers at nearly 30,000 institutions including government agencies have been hit by the global ransomware attack, a leading Chinese security-software provider has said. |
| The enterprise-security division of Qihoo 360, one of China’s leading suppliers of anti-virus software, said 29,372 institutions ranging from government offices to universities, ATMs and hospitals had been “infected” by the outbreak as of late Saturday, AFP reports. | The enterprise-security division of Qihoo 360, one of China’s leading suppliers of anti-virus software, said 29,372 institutions ranging from government offices to universities, ATMs and hospitals had been “infected” by the outbreak as of late Saturday, AFP reports. |
| In a statement dated Sunday, Qihoo 360 said the ransomware had spread particularly quickly through higher education, affecting more than 4,000 Chinese universities and research institutions. | In a statement dated Sunday, Qihoo 360 said the ransomware had spread particularly quickly through higher education, affecting more than 4,000 Chinese universities and research institutions. |
| It gave few details on the extent of any damage, however, and China’s government has said little about the situation. | It gave few details on the extent of any damage, however, and China’s government has said little about the situation. |
| 10.16am BST | 10.16am BST |
| 10:16 | 10:16 |
| Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Blackpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Fylde and Wyre CCG are still experiencing some IT problems. | Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Blackpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Fylde and Wyre CCG are still experiencing some IT problems. |
| They said services are open and operating “as best as possible” but asked patients only to attend A&E in life-threatening and urgent cases. | They said services are open and operating “as best as possible” but asked patients only to attend A&E in life-threatening and urgent cases. |
| Many GP practice computer and telephone systems in the area have also been affected by the attack, though all will be open as usual today. However, patients may be required to wait longer to be seen. | Many GP practice computer and telephone systems in the area have also been affected by the attack, though all will be open as usual today. However, patients may be required to wait longer to be seen. |
| 9.58am BST | 9.58am BST |
| 09:58 | 09:58 |
| The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals Trust reported their IT system had not been attacked and was operating normally. | The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals Trust reported their IT system had not been attacked and was operating normally. |
| Likewise the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs hospitals in Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale, said they had not been affected by the attack but had taken precautionary measures to protect their IT systems. | Likewise the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs hospitals in Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale, said they had not been affected by the attack but had taken precautionary measures to protect their IT systems. |
| 9.58am BST | 9.58am BST |
| 09:58 | 09:58 |
| The Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust said patient safety is being “maintained” but difficulties are continuing. | The Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust said patient safety is being “maintained” but difficulties are continuing. |
| Patients scheduled to have operations today have been asked not to attend hospital unless they have been contacted directly. | Patients scheduled to have operations today have been asked not to attend hospital unless they have been contacted directly. |
| All outpatients and endoscopy appointments and routine MRI and CT scans scheduled for today have also been cancelled. | All outpatients and endoscopy appointments and routine MRI and CT scans scheduled for today have also been cancelled. |
| Patients have been contacted directly if they need to attend, the trust said. | Patients have been contacted directly if they need to attend, the trust said. |
| Patients needing dialysis have been told to attend as usual and the pregnancy assessment unit and all antenatal clinics will be open as usual. | Patients needing dialysis have been told to attend as usual and the pregnancy assessment unit and all antenatal clinics will be open as usual. |