NHS ransomware attack that crippled computers in 99 COUNTRIES reveals how easy it is for hackers to spark a ‘cyber apocalypse’
THE ransonware attack that has brought the NHS to its knees and hit systems in up to 99 countries gives an insight into a "cyber-apocalypse".
Russia has been hit the hardest by the attack, which spread across Asia and Europe yesterday encrypting files and demanding a Bitcoin payment to regain access.
Cyber security expert Varun Badwhar told: "This is an unprecedented scale. We've never seen something spread this quickly in a 24-hour period across these many countries and continents.
"So it's definitely one of those things we've always heard about that could happen and now we're seeing it play out. It's really a cyber-apocalypse that we're seeing."
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It's not just the NHS suffering car manufacturers, communications networks and a Russian bank and government ministries have been struck.
Software maker Avast said it had recorded 57,000 infections in 99 countries.
Amber Rudd has slammed the NHS for not updating its systems, with some trusts reportedly still using Windows XP, which Microsoft stopped supporting in 2014.
But countries around the world are reporting attacks revealing vulnerable systems across many sectors.
Aatish Pattni, from cyber security firm Check Point, said: “The ransomware used in this attack is relatively new – it was first seen in February 2017, and the latest variant emerged earlier today.
“Even so, it’s spreading fast, with organisations across Europe and Asia being hit.
“It shows just how damaging ransomware can be – and how quickly it can cause disruption to vital services.”
The tools used to carry out the hack – dubbed a superweapon – are thought to be a surveillance tool developed by the US’s National Security Agency to spy on terrorists and enemy states.
The “exploit”, called EternalBlue, was stolen and dumped online by the sinister Shadow Brokers last month.
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