News Nation Logo

Global cyber hit: Massive ransomware attacks 74 countries including US, UK, Russia, China and 70 others

A Massive Ransomware Campaign Appears To Have Infected A Number Of Organisations Around The World. According To Reports, There Have Been Reports Of Infections In As Many As 74 Countries, Including The UK, US, China, Russia, Spain, Italy And Taiwan.

News Nation Bureau | Edited By : Shashikant Sharma | Updated on: 13 May 2017, 12:21:44 AM
Global cyber hit: Massive ransomeware attacks 74 countries including US, UK, Russia, China and 70 others (Representative Image)

New Delhi:

A massive ransomware campaign appears to have infected a number of organisations around the world. According to reports, there have been reports of infections in as many as 74 countries, including the UK, US, China, Russia, Spain, Italy and Taiwan.

Computers in thousands of locations have apparently been locked by a program that demands $300 (£230) in Bitcoin.

The cyber-security firm Kaspersky has said that the ransomware had been spotted cropping up in 74 countries and that the number was still growing.

Several experts have linked the infections to vulnerabilities released by a group known as The Shadow Brokers, which recently claimed to have dumped hacking tools stolen from the US National Security Agency (NSA).

Major cyber attack causes havoc on Internet: Twitter, Spotify among big websites to suffer outages due to DDOS attack

The attack initially surfaced as hit on NHS, UK health service. In the initial reports, at least 25 NHS organisations and some GP practices were reported affected by the attack as hospitals could not access patients' data. Within minutes the attack exploded to a far more global reach. 

United Kingdom's Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed the news of an international attack, "Massive cyber hit on NHS is part of wider international attack and there is no evidence patient data has been compromised."

“Hack highlights risk to data security in health service & reinforces need for cyber security at heart of govt planning,” tweeted shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth.

The NHS Digital denied reports that it was a targeted attack only on NHS hospitals and said other organisation across a range of sectors including GPs are also affected.  

It said, the investigation is at an early stage and the malware variant could be Wanna Decryptor.

NHS is working closely with National Cyber Security Centre and the Department of Health to support the affected hospitals and other organisation.  

Meanwhile, reports of cyber attack of similar nations are being reported from several countries, an agency report said. 

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.

First Published : 12 May 2017, 11:14:00 PM

Videos