What You Need to Know About the WannaCry Ransomware

What is the WannaCry ransomware?

Is your computer vulnerable to WannaCry ransomware attacks? Keep reading and find out. Let's explore everything there is to know about the WannaCry ransomware attack.

WannaCry is an example of encryption ransomware, a type of malicious software (malware) used by cybercriminals to extort money.

To do this, it encrypts important files and prevents you from reading them or blocks your access to your computer so that you cannot use it.

Ransomware that uses encryption is called encryption ransomware. The type of ransomware that blocks the use of your computer is called blocking ransomware.

Like other types of encryption ransomware, WannaCry takes your data hostage, promising to return it after paying a ransom.

The target of WannaCry is computers with the Microsoft Windows operating system. It encrypts the data and requires payment of a ransom in the Bitcoin cryptocurrency to make the return.

What was the WannaCry ransomware attack?

The WannaCry ransomware attack was a global epidemic that happened in May 2017.

It has spread to computers running Microsoft Windows. Users' files were held hostage and a bitcoin ransom was required to return them.

If it weren't for the continued use of outdated computer systems and little knowledge about the need to update the software, the damage caused by this attack could have been avoided.

How does a WannaCry attack work?

The cybercriminals responsible for the attack took advantage of a deficiency in the Microsoft Windows operating system using a hack that was allegedly developed by the United States National Security Agency.

Known as EternalBlue, this hack was made public by a group of hackers called Shadow Brokers before the WannaCry attack.

Microsoft released a security fix that protected user systems against this exploit almost two months before the WannaCry ransomware attack began. Unfortunately, many people and organizations do not regularly update their operating systems and therefore have been exposed to the attack.

Those who did not run Microsoft Windows Update before the attack did not benefit from the fix. Thus, this vulnerability exploited by EternalBlue left them open to attack.

At first, people thought the WannaCry ransomware attack had spread through a phishing campaign (a phishing campaign is when spam emails with infected links or attachments are used as bait for users to download malware). However, EternalBlue was the exploit that allowed WannaCry to spread and spread, and DoublePulsar was the backdoor installed on compromised computers (used to run WannaCry).

What would happen if the WannaCry ransom was not paid?

The attackers demanded $ 300 in bitcoins and later increased the ransom amount to $ 600 in bitcoins. If the victims did not pay the ransom within three days, those responsible for the WannaCry ransomware attack threatened to delete the files permanently.

The advice for dealing with ransom payments is not to give in to pressure. You should always avoid paying a ransom, as there is no guarantee that the data will be returned. In addition, each payment validates the criminals' business model, making future attacks even more likely.

This advice was sensible during the WannaCry attack, as it appears that the encoding used in the attack was defective. After the victims paid the ransom, the attackers had no way of associating the payment with that specific person's computer.

There is still doubt as to whether anyone got the files back. Some researchers claimed that no one was able to recover the data. However, a company called F-Secure said that some did. This is a valuable lesson on why it is never a good idea to pay the ransom if you experience a ransomware attack.

What was the impact of the WannaCry attack?

The WannaCry ransomware attack hit some 230,000 computers worldwide.

One of the first organizations affected was the Spanish mobile phone company, Telefónica. On May 12, thousands of NHS offices and hospitals were affected across the UK.

One-third of NHS hospital foundations were affected by the attack. Another frightening event was that ambulances changed their route and stopped serving people who needed urgent care. The estimated cost for the NHS was an overwhelming £ 92 million after 19,000 consultations were canceled as a result of the attack.

As ransomware spread outside Europe, computer systems in 150 countries were paralyzed. The WannaCry ransomware attack had a considerable financial impact worldwide. The losses caused by this cybercrime are estimated to have totaled $ 4 billion worldwide.

Ransomware Protection

Now that you know how the WannaCry ransomware attack happened and the impact it had, let's see how you can protect yourself against ransomware.

These are our main tips:

Update your software and operating system frequently

Computer users were victims of the WannaCry attack because they had not updated the Microsoft Windows operating system.

If they had updated the operating system frequently, they would have benefited from the security fix released by Microsoft before the attack.

This fix eliminated the vulnerability exploited by EternalBlue to infect computers with the WannaCry ransomware.

Remember to keep your software and operating system up to date. This is an essential step to protect against ransomware.

Do not click on suspicious links

If you open an unknown email or go to a website you don't trust, don't click on any links. Clicking on unverified links can trigger a ransomware download.

Never open untrusted email attachments

Avoid opening any email attachment unless you are sure that it is safe. Do you know and trust the sender? Is it clear what the attachment is? Were you expecting to receive an attached file?

If the attachment asks you to enable macros to display it, stay away from it. Do not enable macros or open attachments as this is a common way to spread ransomware and other types of malware.

Do not download from untrusted sites

Downloading files from unknown sites increases the risk of downloading ransomware. Download files only from sites you trust.

Avoid using unknown USB drives

Do not insert USB drives or other removable storage devices into your computer, unless you know where they come from. They may be infected with ransomware.

Use a VPN when accessing public Wi-Fi networks

Be careful when using public Wi-Fi networks, as they make your computer system more vulnerable to attack.

If you need to do this, use a secure VPN to protect yourself from the risk of malware.

Install Total Security

Maintain your computer's security and protect yourself from ransomware by installing Total Security software. Search for a comprehensive solution that protects against several complex threats.

Update your Total Security software

To ensure that you enjoy the maximum protection that your Total Security software has to offer (including all the latest patches), keep it up to date.

Backup your data

Remember to back up your data regularly using an external hard drive or cloud storage. If you are a victim of ransomware, your data will be protected by the backup. Just remember to disconnect the external storage device from the computer as soon as the data backup is finished. Keeping your external storage device constantly connected to your computer can leave you exposed to ransomware families that also encrypt data on those devices.