(You can check for updates by going to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update, and clicking the Check for updates button.) Windows 10 includes a new mechanism to keep computers always up to date, and even though, many users may not agree with mandatory updates, now you have a good reason to keep your PC always updated. Seeing this global attack, now more than ever, it’s important to keep your PC updated with the latest version and latest security patches. Here are a few tips to stay safe and secure: Keep Windows updated If you own a business, or you’re an individual, there are a lot of things you can do to prevent being caught in the ransomware storm. This is not the first nor the last ransomware we’ll see. How to protect your PC and files from a ransomware attack But in this case, this cyber attack was so bad that Microsoft decided to release an emergency patch for anyone still running the decade-old OS - even though, users have been warned many times that the OS wasn’t safe anymore. However, many PCs affected during the attack were still running Windows XP, which Microsoft stopped supporting years ago. This vulnerability was exposed earlier this year, and Microsoft released a patch, which means that if your keep your device updated, there shouldn’t be any worries about this ransomware on Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 (and later versions). However, this worm is also capable of spreading through the network attacking devices running old unsupported or unpatched versions of Windows, such as Windows XP, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2003. Usually, a computer will get infected, if the user clicks a link on a specially crafted email. WannaCry is a particularly nasty computer worm, its name is short for “WannaCrypt”, and it’s also referred to as “Wanna Decryptor” and “WannaCryptor”. It also hit phone companies like Telefonica, as well as delivery companies like FedEx, Deutsche Bahn, and airlines, such as Latham Airlines. The victims affected by this ransomware included a number of hospitals in the UK. Paying the ransom is not recommended, as there is no guarantee that paying up will unlock your device’s data. The longer you take to pay, the more money you have to pay, and after a week hackers threaten to permanently lock your files. In the case of the WannaCry attack, these hackers were asking for $300 in Bitcoin to unlock your computer files. If you’re still new to the “ransomware” term, it’s a type of malware that blocks your access to your computer by encrypting all your data until a ransom is paid. However, it’s actually an attack that could have been prevented, if businesses (or individuals) kept their Windows devices updated with the latest security patches.Īccording to official data, more than 200,000 PCs in more than 150 countries have been hit by this new ransomware. The WannaCry cyberattack continues to spread claiming victims around the globe crippling many computer systems.
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