Wannacrypt: a Ransomware That Spreads Very Quickly, How to Protect Yourself From It?

Wannacrypt: a Ransomware That Spreads Very Quickly How to Protect Yourself From It? antivirus


In recent days, WannaCrypt, a dangerous attack exploiting a Windows flaw, has been spreading very quickly on the internet. What are the effects of this attack and how to protect yourself from it?

WannaCrypt is the computer attack everyone is talking about, even your favorite TV channel that never talks about this kind of topic. And for good reason, its scale is unprecedented. Two days ago, there were already more than 100,000 infected machines in more than 70 countries and large organizations, such as English hospitals or Renault in France.

WHAT ARE WANNACRYPT AND WANNACRY?

WannaCrypt is ransomware, which is software programmed to encrypt storage and user's personal information, and which offers decryption in exchange for a ransom.

To propagate from machine to machine, WannaCrypt uses a Windows vulnerability with the SMB server service and does not require any user action to be installed. The vulnerability in question was corrected by Microsoft in March, but many Windows machines did not install the update for various reasons and are therefore vulnerable. In addition, the program that exploits this flaw, once a successful attack, can spread across the local network, which explains how entire facilities like hospitals became inoperative over the weekend.


The software that manages the propagation associated with the encryption software forms WannaCry, a devastating cocktail for failing security machines.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM WANNACRY?

To protect yourself from this attack, you must block the two elements of WannaCry, the infection vector, and the encryption software. For the first, it's simple, just patch Windows so that it is no longer vulnerable to this security flaw.

PREVENT THE SPREAD

Microsoft released a security patch in March to address this loophole, so if you're using a publisher-supported version of Windows in March (Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10), just go through Windows Update will suffice.


On the other hand, if you use a version of Windows that Microsoft no longer supports (Windows XP, Windows 8.0), a lack of digital hygiene, the publisher has exceptionally published a patch capable of correcting the flaw.


To know the version of Windows installed on a computer, just use the Win + R shortcut and type winver then enter, a window will appear with the commercial name of the installed windows and its build number.

PREVENT DATA ENCRYPTION

Fixing the vulnerability does not prevent an ill-advised user from running malware on a machine and inadvertently initiating storage encryption. There is currently no way to decrypt WannaCrypt victimized data, and paying the ransom does not guarantee the return of the data. protect your pc with antivirus.


The easiest way is to prevent the attack, first by keeping your operating system up to date to prevent propagation, and by backing up your data. Of course, these backups must be multiple and not be within the reach of WannaCrypt, or other ransomware, in the event of an attack.


Many of the early victims of WannaCry still had not migrated their machines, which were still running Windows XP, a version of Windows that Microsoft has not supported since 2014, three years ago.


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