The biggest digital attack in the history has left the entire world at sixes and sevens. WannaCry, a crypto-ransomware, also known as WannaCrypt, had attacked India and about 150 other countries on May 12.
This movement has raised the alarm for all important organizations including hospitals, banks, railway companies, etc. The hackers have an indomitable shrewd mind. So is this one. The hackers behind WannaCrypt have exploited the known shortcomings of an old Microsoft Operating System, XP.
What does WannaCrypt do?
The WannaCrypt 2.0 bug encrypts data on a computer within seconds. A ransom of $ 300 in Bitcoins is requested to restore access to the device and the data inside. If not paid within the stipulated time (3 days reportedly), the ransom amount doubles to $600.
Don’t want to be victimized? Keep these points in mind
- Microsoft claims it “released a security update which addresses the vulnerability that these attacks are exploiting”. All organizations and individuals are requested to deploy the updated system.
- Don’t open suspicious e-mails. Avoid opening mails from unidentified sources.
- Don’t tap on suspicious links or open fishy websites. Avoid such activities for a couple of days, atleast.
Can ATM’s be used?
A large number of ATM systems have been equipped with Microsoft XP, hence ATMs are most vulnerable to attack. It is advisable to avoid any ATM transactions for a couple of days. Andhra Pradesh ATM’s are reported to have been attacked by malware.
What to do if WannaCrypt has attacked your systems?
If the virus starts running in the computer, shut down your computers instantly. Don’t give in to the hacker’s demands. Experts from all across the world have suggested that there is no surety that data will be retrieved back after paying the ransom amount.
If one computer system has been hacked, immediately disintegrate that PC from Lan Cable so that data of other computers stays protected.
Who are susceptible targets now?
As the malware has entered India including the state of Andhra Pradesh, one could expect a similar attack on government agencies like RBI, stock markets including BSE, NSE which are prone to the attack. The Digital security agencies have cautioned RBI, stock markets and banks against the prevalent attack. “Since the user’s bank account is linked with his Aadhaar number, the ransomware can potentially lock down the account and make it unusable unless a ransom is paid,” Pradipto Chakrabarty, Regional Director, CompTIA India.
Until a proper solution to counter this digital terrorism is reached, we can only exercise imeense caution while working on websites, emails and other types of Internet media.
