WannaCry 2.0? NotPetya the Latest Ransomware to Disrupt Global NetworksJune 29, 2017 by FasettoAs predicted, yet another massive ransomware attack has rocked private and public networks across Europe – and even isolated incidents stateside – reminiscent of the WannaCry cyber attack that shut down hospital networks in the UK barely a month ago. While we’re not happy to say “I told you so” in this case, it appears that this “sequel” to WannaCry isn’t simply a fluke occurrence, but is likely to become increasingly common in the years to come.This latest virus appears to have originated in the Ukraine, where systems across the country were compromised, including the Ukraine central bank, municipal transit systesm, state telecom and even Kiev’s Boryspil International Airport. The attack even made it’s way to the storied Chernobyl nuclear power plant, forcing engineers at the facility to switch to manual radiation monitoring in an effort to avoid a meltdown reminiscent of the one that made global headlines back in the 1980s.While this virus appears to have a lot in common with WannaCry, it’s actually an entirely new strain that leverages the same EternalBlue exploit that allowed WannaCry to spread quickly among infected networks. While there isn’t a formal name for this latest bug, security firm Kasperky Labs has dubbed it “NotPetya” after determining that the virus isn’t simply a variant of the common Petya ransomware as the company first suspected.Outside of the Ukraine, Danish shipping company Maersk reported that the virus had taken systems down at sites across the globe, including the logistics arm of the company, Damco, operating out of Russia. Stateside, the virus has been credited with affecting systems at a Pittsburgh-area hospital, as well as at the pharmaceutical company Merck and a number of global law firms with locations throughout the states.As is usually the case, Microsoft and other operating systems have been workign tirelessly to investigate and stop the spread of the virus, attributing much of the spread to compromised email chains with dangerous attachments.One way to help avoid reliance on email via potentially compromised platforms is for users to share content with their friends, family, coworkers or collaborators via LINK. Rather than attach documents via email, LINK can store up to 2TB of content that can be transferred between users over the air directly to other devices. Because LINK is compatible with any platform, any type of file can be shared and stored through a device small enough to fit in the palm of a users hand.Learn more about LINK and how it can help assure your data is safe and secure before the next inevitable ransomware attack threatens networks the world over.
parentingpatch saysJune 29, 2017 at 11:58 amRansomware and cyber crime are absolutely disgusting. But that is the age that we live in anymore.Reply
Jay saysJune 29, 2017 at 1:17 pmI remember when wannacry frist came out we were all freaking out. These types of attacks are start out of a 90’s scfi movie. Sad that we are actually now livign it.Reply
Adaleta Avdić saysJune 30, 2017 at 1:54 amHmm interesting, I am not the most understood in tech but it is always good to be informed about it.Reply
Melanie Walsh saysJune 30, 2017 at 2:23 amSo scary! We are so dependent on our technology that the thought of them being compromised fills me with dread. It’s great to know how to protect myself better.Reply
RM saysJune 30, 2017 at 2:29 amCyber crime is awful and disgusting but now seems to be a part of our world …Reply
livanies86 saysJune 30, 2017 at 2:39 amIt´s crazy that owning a laptop or a phone makes us wounderable…. This world is crazyReply
Shannon Graham saysJune 30, 2017 at 4:00 pmWow, I had to read this slowly. A lot I don’t understand but this is intriguing.Reply
Sondra Barker saysJune 30, 2017 at 4:02 pmHow do people come up with such things? It’s not only sad what this can do but it’s just scary as well.Reply
Esse D saysJune 30, 2017 at 9:37 pmThat was pretty fast for another one to pop up! It seems like the world has become a lit more vulnerable to attacks such as these.Reply
The Brainy Mama saysJuly 1, 2017 at 2:31 pmI’ve never heard of LINK before but I think it’s worth checking on. You can never get too safe in the cyberworld.Reply
ohmummymia saysJuly 1, 2017 at 4:12 pmIt’s really scary:/ nowadays you can hear too often about ransomware and cyber crime.Reply
Cynthia Nicoletti saysJuly 1, 2017 at 10:56 pmI thought we were so protected by our technology. Why has cyber crime become so bad.Reply
Elizabeth O saysJuly 2, 2017 at 7:33 pmThis is the wave of the future with these insane virus attacks. We will just need to get better technology to counter it. What a waste of talent to use it to hurt instead of help the world.Reply
Carol Cassara saysJuly 5, 2017 at 8:27 amThese people have nothing better to do than to watch other suffer. It’s unbelievable that they use their skill to ruin others instead of using it to help out. This virus is such a headache!Reply