You Don't Want to See This....

You don’t want to see this on your screen. 

Just weeks after the now famous WannaCry ransomware attack, the current Petya attack has already hit more than 12,500 machines running older versions of Microsoft Windows across 64 countries according to Microsoft (but those numbers are from 10 days ago….). The WannaCry attack affected hundreds of thousands of computers in more than 150 countries.

The email addresses used by the attackers have been shut down, which removes the possibility that the attackers could restore a victim’s access to their computer network even once the ransom is paid.

While the intended target is thought to be inside of Ukraine, security researchers and law enforcement have yet to determine who the hackers are. The original Petya ransomware was developed and used by cybercriminals in the past. Variations have been sold through dark web trading sites. They are accessible only by using browsers that mask a user’s identity, making it difficult for cyber security researchers to track.

Cyber security experts say that like WannaCry, the ransomware infects computers using vulnerabilities in the central nerve of a computer, called a kernel, making it difficult for antivirus firms to detect. Even systems that were updated after WannaCry could potentially become vulnerable again.

The bottom line is that ransom motivated hackers will not go away. With the ability for these hackers to purchase code on the dark web, it will most assuredly increase. Trying to stop them after the attack is like trying to hit a mole in the old Whack-a-Mole arcade game. 

To find out more about SECaaS (Security as a Service), contact me at [email protected] – or visit us at our NEW WEBSITE – www.TopSpeedData.com