Ransomware Cyber Attack

The recent Ransomware cyber attack is all over the news.

Ransomware – is a type of malicious software or can be said as a virus which spreads in your system and encrypt all your files. To decrypt them, it asks for ransom money as in this case in the form of Bitcoins. For this attack, hackers use a flaw in the Operating System.

If the computer is connected to a LAN network, then it only needs a single computer to spread to all the computers in the network.

The attack has been done in around 150 countries. The first attack took place in the National Health Care System (NHS) in the UK. The attack deleted all the files in their database which proved to be a major lose for the Health Service. The ransom money is mostly around $300 to $600.

The virus uses a flaw in Microsoft Windows XP. If the user is running an outdated version of Windows XP, then it’s a must that their computer can get affected.

The virus was spread with the help of an email attachment file named 'tasksche.exe' which, when clicked by the user running an outdated version of Windows XP allow the virus to encrypt all the files in that computer asking for ransom money in Bitcoins to decrypt them.

According to a report in NDTV, this virus has been spread in India in the parts of Andhra Pradesh.

The problem is that in India 70% of the ATMs use Windows XP to operate their system. And most probably this OS are not updated which increases the chances of getting attacked.

So, now how to save yourself.

1.) The first thing ATM transaction and Online payment must be avoided for a few days.

2.)Your Windows OS should be kept up to date and Antivirus should be updated for latest virus definition.

3.) If you receive an email with an attachment of any .exe file, do not open it. It can be a ransomware that could risk your files in computer.

#tech #news #hack #cyberattack