{"id":34402,"date":"2017-05-15T09:09:49","date_gmt":"2017-05-15T09:09:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thefastfashion.com\/?p=34402"},"modified":"2017-05-15T09:09:49","modified_gmt":"2017-05-15T09:09:49","slug":"nhs-ransomware-cyberattack-preventable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thefastfashion.com\/?p=34402","title":{"rendered":"NHS ransomware cyberattack was preventable"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a matter of hours, the NHS was effectively placed on lockdown with computer systems being held ransom and further machines powered down to prevent the spread of malware. Critical patient information has been inaccessible and several hospitals urged people to avoid accident and emergency departments, except in cases of real emergencies.<\/p>\n

Ransomware is the form of computer malware that has infected the NHS. Typically, it encrypts user information and then demands payment before unlocking the information. In this case the ransomware demands a fee of US$300 (\u00a3230) payable in the crypto-currency, bitcoin, allowing the perpetrators a degree of anonymity.<\/p>\n

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British law enforcement have called it a criminal attack rather than one orchestrated by a foreign state. The British public can take some small comfort in this; criminal organisations are not as well funded and the malware may be easier to remove without the loss of patient files. It is too early to say categorically who is responsible for the attack though it is certainly the most devastating cyber-attack on British infrastructure ever.<\/p>\n

But it is not just British infrastructure that has been affected by the ransomware. The Spanish telecommunications firm, Telefonica, was also attacked. There have also been a large number of other suspected attacks, notably in Germany, the Philippines, Russia, Turkey and Vietnam. A total of 99 countries have suffered from this attack so far. Whether this is as a result of a larger international criminal organisation is still unknown, however, the rapidity with which the infections are spreading is very concerning.<\/p>\n

The attackers\u2019 motive is perhaps clear: financial gain. Though if one looks beyond the relatively small demands of the ransomware, there is something larger at play here. Cyber-criminals will often boast of their exploits to others to gain a level of prestige among their peers. So, while we can often see money as the primary driver for this kind of attack, there may be other motives that will remain hidden.<\/p>\n

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People in the UK have been advised to avoid accident and emergency departments unless absolutely necessary.<\/span> Imran’s Photography\/Shutterstock<\/a><\/span>“><\/p>\n
People in the UK have been advised to avoid accident and emergency departments unless absolutely necessary.<\/span> Imran’s Photography\/Shutterstock<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption>