Ransomware cyberattack due to governments carelessness

Microsoft warns national security agencies not to "store up" viruses – to only let them leak- but to make them known. South Korea, almost untouched. Russia, Britain, Germany, France hit as well as universities in China, Italy and Greece.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Ransomware cyberattack, which hit more than 200,000 computers over the weekend in 150 countries, is due to the carelessness of government intelligence agencies. Microsoft's lawyer, Brad Smith, accuses the US National Security Agency (NSA) in particular of "storing up" and "developing" a virus as a result of possible web attacks, which would then be stolen.

The code used in the weekend attack was developed by the NSA. Smith has said that Microsoft has long been calling for a "Geneva Digital Convention" demanding governments make computer vulnerabilities known rather than storing them, selling them, or exploiting them.

Microsoft is at the center of the debate because cyber-criminals exploited a weakness in Microsoft Windows. The company had sent updates in March to stop it. It is likely that those who were hit did not make the necessary updates.

The South Korean government has announced today that only nine computers across the country have been hit. But there are fears that with the resumption of work after the weekend, there may be many new attacks.

The Ransomware virus takes possession of all the files on a computer and asks for $ 300 ransom to release them.

On Friday May 12 and Sunday 14, some computers in the interior ministry, banking and railways were hit in Russia. In France, the Renault car company had to stop some production. In Germany, Deutsche Banh (railways) was hit. In Britain, the National Health System went into tilt and seven hospitals could not yet operate until seven o'clock in the afternoon.

Universities in China, Italy and Greece were also infected

• Asia
• north
• America
• economy
• cyberattack
• internet
• ransom