Global Ransomware Attacks Strikes across Europe

By Amina Faki

Hackers caused widespread disruption across Europe on 27th June 2017 hitting Ukraine too hard.

There’s global worry as there’s new report of massive cyber-attacks; hospitals paralyzed, surgeries halted. Hackers have infected computers in more than 150 countries now including the US, locking up companies through their computers and demanding ransom to free the files.

According to Reuters, there were serious intrusions that were reported at Ukraine’s Power Grid, Banks, Government Offices and other companies.

Pavlo Rozenko, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister posted a photo of a darkened computer screen to Twitter saying that computer systems at the government’s headquarters had been shut down.

Та-дам! Секретаріат КМУ по ходу теж “обвалили”. Мережа лежить. pic.twitter.com/B74jMsT0qs

— Rozenko Pavlo (@RozenkoPavlo) June 27, 2017

A flurry of other business across Europe reported issues: Eamon Javers reported on CNBC that the following companies were among victims of cyber-attack: Rosneft and Evraz in Russia, Merck and Mondelez in the US, Maersk in Denmark, WPP and DLA Paper in the UK, Saint-Gobain in France and TNT Express in Netherlands.

We confirm our company’s computer network was compromised today as part of global hack. Other organizations have also been affected (1 of 2)

— Merck (@Merck) June 27, 2017

Russia and Ukraine were the most affected by the thousands of attacks according to security software maker Kaspersky Lab, with other victims spread across the countries including Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security said that DHS is monitoring reports of cyber-attacks affecting multiple global entities and it’s collaborating with international and domestic cyber partners stating that they are ready to support upon request for assistance.

The rampant spread of cyber security issues including cyber-extortions have raised concerns that businesses have failed to secure their networks from the dangers that hackers pose.

Chief Executive of Cyber Security Firm Secure Ideas said that to quote his words, “Cyber-attacks can simply destroy us,” he continued by saying that, “Companies are just not doing what they are supposed to do to fix the problem.”

Cyber security researchers that were tracking the attack said that the trail could lead to Northern Korea, according to them the computer code that produce the so called “WannaCry” attack appears to have similarities to the code used by North Korea in an attack at international banks last year.

“It could be someone else using the North Korean code” researchers say, but the country has a long record of computer criminality.

“We’ve seen them steal money, information, and destroy information,” said John Carlin, Former Assistant Attorney General.

The virus used is similar to the ransomware attack last month that infected more than 300,000 computers, according to cybersecurity experts.

The total number of attacks on Tuesday is still unknown.

There’s little information known about who might be behind the disruption, but technology experts say it bears the hallmarks of ransomware.

In a statement, the White House National Security Council said was currently no risk to public safety. The United States was investigating the attack and determined to hold those responsible accountable, It said.

The big question is, will these companies pay the ransom that they are being asked for today?