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Upon learning about the impact on the NHS, [[Edward Snowden]] said that had the NSA "[[Responsible disclosure|privately disclosed]] the flaw used to attack hospitals when they ''found'' it, not when they lost it, [the attack] may not have happened".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/may/12/global-cyber-attack-ransomware-nsa-uk-nhs|title=Massive ransomware cyber-attack hits 74 countries around the world|first1=Julia Carrie|last1=Wong|first2=Olivia|last2=Solon|date=12 May 2017|publisher=|access-date=12 May 2017|via=The Guardian}}</ref>
Upon learning about the impact on the NHS, [[Edward Snowden]] said that had the NSA "[[Responsible disclosure|privately disclosed]] the flaw used to attack hospitals when they ''found'' it, not when they lost it, [the attack] may not have happened".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/may/12/global-cyber-attack-ransomware-nsa-uk-nhs|title=Massive ransomware cyber-attack hits 74 countries around the world|first1=Julia Carrie|last1=Wong|first2=Olivia|last2=Solon|date=12 May 2017|publisher=|access-date=12 May 2017|via=The Guardian}}</ref>


[[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|British Prime Minister]] [[Theresa May]] said of the ransomware, "This is not targeted at the NHS. It is an international attack. A number of countries and organizations have been affected."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/12/health/uk-nhs-cyber-attack/index.html|title=UK prime minister: Ransomware attack is global|first=Laura Smith-Spark, Milena Veselinovic and Hilary McGann|last=CNN|website=CNN|access-date=13 May 2017}}</ref>
[[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|British Prime Minister]] [[Theresa May]] said of the ransomware, "This is not targeted at the NHS. It is an international attack. A number of countries and organizations have been affected."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/12/health/uk-nhs-cyber-attack/index.html|title=UK prime minister: Ransomware attack is global|first=Laura Smith-Spark, Milena Veselinovic and Hilary McGann|last=CNN|website=CNN|access-date=13 May 2017}}</ref> However, opposition and tech experts have said that the effects of the hack were exacerbated by Conservative underfunding of the NHS as part of [[United Kingdom government austerity programme|the government's austerity measures]], in particular the [[Department of Health]]'s refusal to pay extra to Microsoft in order to keep protecting outdated [[Windows XP]] systems from such attacks.<ref>{{cite news|title=The ransomware attack is all about the insufficient funding of the NHS|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/may/13/nhs-computer-systems-insufficient-funding|accessdate=14 May 2017|work=The Guardian|date=13 May 2017}}</ref> Home secretary [[Amber Rudd]] refused to say whether patient data had been backed up, and shadow health secretary [[Johnathan Ashworth]] accused health secretary [[Jeremy Hunt]] of resufing to act on a critical note from Microsoft two months previously, as other warnings from the [[National Cyber Security Centre]] and [[National Crime Agency]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Jeremy Hunt 'ignored warning signs' before cyber-attack hit NHS|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/may/13/jeremy-hunt-ignored-warning-signs-before-cyber-attack-hit-nhs|accessdate=14 May 2017|work=The Guardian|date=13 May 2017}}</ref>


Microsoft has created security patches for its now-unsupported versions of Windows, including Windows XP, Windows 8 and Windows Server 2003.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/msrc/2017/05/12/customer-guidance-for-wannacrypt-attacks/|title=Customer Guidance for WannaCrypt attacks|work=MSRC|access-date=2017-05-13|language=en-US}}</ref>
Microsoft has created security patches for its now-unsupported versions of Windows, including Windows XP, Windows 8 and Windows Server 2003.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/msrc/2017/05/12/customer-guidance-for-wannacrypt-attacks/|title=Customer Guidance for WannaCrypt attacks|work=MSRC|access-date=2017-05-13|language=en-US}}</ref>

Revision as of 00:08, 14 May 2017

WannaCry ransomware attack
Screenshot of the ransom note left on an infected system
Date12 May 2017 (2017-05-12) (ongoing)
LocationWorldwide
Also known asWannaCrypt, WanaCrypt0r
TypeCyber-attack
ThemeRansomware encrypting hard disk with $300 demand
CauseEternalBlue exploit
ParticipantsUnknown
OutcomeMore than 230,000 computers infected[1]
StatusMostly under control

WannaCry,[2] also known by the names WannaCrypt,[3] WanaCrypt0r 2.0,[4] Wanna Decryptor[5] and other similar names, is a ransomware program targeting Microsoft Windows. In May 2017, a large cyber-attack using it was launched, infecting over 230,000 computers in 99 countries, demanding ransom payments in bitcoin in 28 languages. The attack has been described by Europol as unprecedented in scale.[6]

The attack affected Telefónica and several other large companies in Spain, as well as parts of Britain's National Health Service (NHS),[7] FedEx and Deutsche Bahn.[8][9][10] Other targets in at least 99 countries were also reported to have been attacked around the same time.[11][12]

WannaCry is believed to use the EternalBlue exploit, which was developed by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA)[13][14] to attack computers running Microsoft Windows operating systems.[4][15] Although a patch to remove the underlying vulnerability had been issued on 14 March 2017,[16] delays in applying security updates left some users vulnerable.[17] Microsoft has taken the unusual step of releasing updates for the unsupported Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 and patches for Windows 8 operating systems.[3][18]

A kill switch has been found in the code, which prevents new infections. This has been activated by researchers and should slow or stop the spread. However, different versions of the attack may be released and all vulnerable systems still have an urgent need to be patched.

Background

The purported infection vector, EternalBlue, was released by the hacker group The Shadow Brokers on 14 April 2017,[19][20] along with other tools apparently leaked from Equation Group, which is believed to be part of the United States National Security Agency.[21][22]

EternalBlue exploits vulnerability MS17-010[16] in Microsoft's implementation of the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol. Microsoft had released a "Critical" advisory, along with an update patch to plug the vulnerability a month before, on 14 March 2017.[16] This patch only fixed Windows Vista and later operating systems but not the older Windows XP.

Countries initially affected[23]

Attack

On 12 May 2017, WannaCry began affecting computers worldwide.[24] After gaining access to the computers, reportedly via email attachment,[citation needed] then spreading through the local area network (LAN), the ransomware encrypts the computer's hard disk drive,[25][26] then attempts to exploit the SMB vulnerability to spread to random computers on the Internet via TCP port 445,[27] and "laterally" between computers on the same LAN.[28] As with other modern ransomware, the payload displays a message informing the user that files have been encrypted, and demands a payment of $300 in bitcoin within three days.

The Windows vulnerability is not a zero-day flaw, but one for which Microsoft had made available a security patch on 14 March 2017,[16] nearly two months before the attack. The patch was to the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol used by Windows.[29] Organizations that lacked this security patch were affected for this reason, although there is so far no evidence that any were specifically targeted by the ransomware developers.[29] Any organization still running the older Windows XP[30] were at particularly high risk because until 13 May,[3] no security patches had been released since April 2014.[31] Following the attack, Microsoft released a security patch for Windows XP.[3]

According to Wired, affected systems will also have had the DOUBLEPULSAR backdoor installed; this will also need to be removed when systems are decrypted.[32]

Impact

The ransomware campaign was unprecedented in scale according to Europol.[6] The attack affected many National Health Service hospitals in the UK.[33] On 12 May, some NHS services had to turn away non-critical emergencies, and some ambulances were diverted.[8][34] In 2016, thousands of computers in 42 separate NHS trusts in England were reported to be still running Windows XP.[30] Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK in Tyne and Wear, one of Europe's most productive car manufacturing plants, halted production after the ransomware infected some of their systems. Renault also stopped production at several sites in an attempt to stop the spread of the ransomware.[35][36]

List of affected organizations

Response

Several hours after the initial release of the ransomware on 12 May 2017, a "kill switch" hardcoded into the malware was discovered. This allowed the spread of the initial infection to be halted by registering a domain name.[55] However, variants without the kill switch are expected to be created.[56][57]

Reactions

Upon learning about the impact on the NHS, Edward Snowden said that had the NSA "privately disclosed the flaw used to attack hospitals when they found it, not when they lost it, [the attack] may not have happened".[58]

British Prime Minister Theresa May said of the ransomware, "This is not targeted at the NHS. It is an international attack. A number of countries and organizations have been affected."[59] However, opposition and tech experts have said that the effects of the hack were exacerbated by Conservative underfunding of the NHS as part of the government's austerity measures, in particular the Department of Health's refusal to pay extra to Microsoft in order to keep protecting outdated Windows XP systems from such attacks.[60] Home secretary Amber Rudd refused to say whether patient data had been backed up, and shadow health secretary Johnathan Ashworth accused health secretary Jeremy Hunt of resufing to act on a critical note from Microsoft two months previously, as other warnings from the National Cyber Security Centre and National Crime Agency.[61]

Microsoft has created security patches for its now-unsupported versions of Windows, including Windows XP, Windows 8 and Windows Server 2003.[62]

See also

References

  1. ^ Cameron, Dell. "Today's Massive Ransomware Attack Was Mostly Preventable; Here's How To Avoid It". Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  2. ^ The GenX Times Team. "WannaCry Ransomware attack computers worldwide, using NSA exploit codenamed Eternalblue". Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d MSRC Team. "Customer Guidance for WannaCrypt attacks". Microsoft. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  4. ^ a b Fox-Brewster, Thomas. "An NSA Cyber Weapon Might Be Behind A Massive Global Ransomware Outbreak". Forbes. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  5. ^ Woollaston, Victoria. "Wanna Decryptor: what is the 'atom bomb of ransomware' behind the NHS attack?". WIRED UK. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Cyber-attack: Europol says it was unprecedented in scale". BBC News. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  7. ^ Marsh, Sarah (12 May 2017). "The NHS trusts hit by malware – full list". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  8. ^ a b "NHS cyber-attack: GPs and hospitals hit by ransomware". BBC News. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  9. ^ Hern, Alex; Gibbs, Samuel (12 May 2017). "What is 'WanaCrypt0r 2.0' ransomware and why is it attacking the NHS?". The Guardian. London. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  10. ^ "Statement on reported NHS cyber attack". digital.nhs.uk. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  11. ^ Cox, Joseph (12 May 2017). "A Massive Ransomware 'Explosion' Is Hitting Targets All Over the World". Motherboard. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  12. ^ Larson, Selena (12 May 2017). "Massive ransomware attack hits 99 countries". CNN. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  13. ^ "NHS cyber attack: Edward Snowden says NSA should have prevented cyber attack". The Independent. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  14. ^ "NHS cyber attack: Everything you need to know about 'biggest ransomware' offensive in history". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  15. ^ Larson, Selena (12 May 2017). "Massive ransomware attack hits 74 countries". CNNMoney. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  16. ^ a b c d "Microsoft Security Bulletin MS17-010 – Critical". technet.microsoft.com. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  17. ^ 15:58, 12 May 2017 at; tweet_btn(), John Leyden. "WanaCrypt ransomware snatches NSA exploit, fscks over Telefónica, other orgs in Spain". theregister.co.uk. Retrieved 12 May 2017. {{cite web}}: |last1= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Surur (13 May 2017). "Microsoft release Wannacrypt patch for unsupported Windows XP, Windows 8 and Windows Server 2003". Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  19. ^ Menn, Joseph (17 February 2015). "Russian researchers expose breakthrough U.S. spying program". Reuters. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  20. ^ "NSA-leaking Shadow Brokers just dumped its most damaging release yet". Ars Technica. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  21. ^ Fox-Brewster, Thomas (16 February 2015). "Equation = NSA? Researchers Uncloak Huge 'American Cyber Arsenal'". Forbes. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  22. ^ "Latest Shadow Brokers dump — owning SWIFT Alliance Access, Cisco and Windows". Medium. 14 April 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  23. ^ http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39907965
  24. ^ Newman, Lily Hay. "The Ransomware Meltdown Experts Warned About Is Here". Wired.com. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  25. ^ "Russian-linked cyber gang blamed for NHS computer hack using bug stolen from US spy agency". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  26. ^ Bilefsky, Dan; Perlroth, Nicole (12 May 2017). "Hackers Hit Dozens of Countries Exploiting Stolen N.S.A. Tool". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  27. ^ Clark, Zammis. "The worm that spreads WanaCrypt0r". Malwarebytes Labs. malwarebytes.com. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  28. ^ Samani, Raj. "An Analysis of the WANNACRY Ransomware outbreak". McAfee. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  29. ^ a b "WannaCry Ransomware Attack Hits Victims With Microsoft SMB Exploit". eWeek. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  30. ^ a b "NHS Hospitals Are Running Thousands of Computers on Unsupported Windows XP". Motherboard. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  31. ^ "Windows XP End of Support". www.microsoft.com. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  32. ^ Woollaston, Victoria. "Wanna Decryptor: what is the 'atom bomb of ransomware' behind the NHS attack?". WIRED UK. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  33. ^ "Global cyberattack strikes dozens of countries, cripples U.K. hospitals". cbsnews.com. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  34. ^ Wong, Julia Carrie; Solon, Olivia (12 May 2017). "Massive ransomware cyber-attack hits 74 countries around the world". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  35. ^ Sharman, Jon (13 May 2017). "Cyber-attack that crippled NHS systems hits Nissan car factory in Sunderland and Renault in France". www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  36. ^ Rosemain, Mathieu; Le Guernigou, Yann; Davey, James (13 May 2017). "Renault stops production at several plants after ransomware cyber attack as Nissan also hacked". www.mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  37. ^ "WannaCry no Brasil e no mundo". O Povo (in Portuguese). 13 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  38. ^ {{cite web|url=http://www.opovo.com.br/jornal/economia/2017/05/wannacry-no-brasil-e-no-mundo.html%7Ctitle=WannaCry no Brasil e no mundo|date=13 May 2017|website=O Povo|language=pt|access-date=13 May 2017}}
  39. ^ a b c d "Global cyber attack: A look at some prominent victims". elperiodico.com (in Spanish). 13 May 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  40. ^ "Instituto Nacional de Salud, entre víctimas de ciberataque mundial". 13 May 2017.
  41. ^ "France's Renault hit in worldwide 'ransomware' cyber attack". france24.com (in Spanish). 13 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  42. ^ "Weltweite Cyberattacke trifft Computer der Deutschen Bahn". faz.net (in German). 13 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  43. ^ Balogh, Csaba (12 May 2017). "Ideért a baj: Magyarországra is elért az óriási kibertámadás". HVG (in Hungarian). Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  44. ^ "Andhra police computers hit by cyberattack". Times of India. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  45. ^ "Il virus Wannacry arrivato a Milano: colpiti computer dell'università Bicocca". repubblica.it (in Italian). 12 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  46. ^ "PT Portugal alvo de ataque informático internacional". Observador (in Portuguese). 12 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  47. ^ Template:Ro icon "Atacul cibernetic global a afectat și Uzina Dacia de la Mioveni. Renault a anunțat că a oprit producția și în Franța". Pro TV. 13 May 2017.
  48. ^ Template:Ro icon "UPDATE. Atac cibernetic la MAE. Cine sunt hackerii de elită care au falsificat o adresă NATO". Libertatea. 12 May 2017.
  49. ^ "Massive cyber attack creates chaos around the world". news.com.au. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  50. ^ "Researcher 'accidentally' stops spread of unprecedented global cyberattack". ABC News. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  51. ^ "Компьютеры РЖД подверглись хакерской атаке и заражены вирусом". Radio Liberty. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  52. ^ a b "Un ataque informático masivo con 'ransomware' afecta a medio mundo". elperiodico.com (in Spanish). 12 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  53. ^ a b ""Cyber-attack that crippled NHS systems hits Nissan car factory in Sunderland and Renault in France"". The Independent. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  54. ^ "What is Wannacry and how can it be stopped?". Ft.com. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  55. ^ Solon, Olivia (13 May 2017). "'Accidental hero' finds kill switch to stop spread of ransomware cyber-attack". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  56. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-39907049
  57. ^ Kan, Micael. "A 'kill switch' is slowing the spread of WannaCry ransomware". PC World. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  58. ^ Wong, Julia Carrie; Solon, Olivia (12 May 2017). "Massive ransomware cyber-attack hits 74 countries around the world". Retrieved 12 May 2017 – via The Guardian.
  59. ^ CNN, Laura Smith-Spark, Milena Veselinovic and Hilary McGann. "UK prime minister: Ransomware attack is global". CNN. Retrieved 13 May 2017. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  60. ^ "The ransomware attack is all about the insufficient funding of the NHS". The Guardian. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  61. ^ "Jeremy Hunt 'ignored warning signs' before cyber-attack hit NHS". The Guardian. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  62. ^ "Customer Guidance for WannaCrypt attacks". MSRC. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
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