What can be learnt from the WannaCry exploit?

By Clook Internet

18 May 2017

By Jamie Hoyles, Clook Internet Account Manager

Last week, a global cyber attack affected hundreds of thousands of organisations in 150 countries. In the UK, the attack hit 47 NHS trusts, leading to operations being cancelled and patients turned away from A&E.

The exploit – WannaCry - has been labelled “the biggest ransomware outbreak in history.” Along with crippling the NHS, it has affected organsations around the world including French car manufacturers, Russian banks, and a Spanish telecoms operator. Security software company Kaspersky Lab has suggested that the WannaCry ransomware has snared more than 300,000 victims since it was unleashed on Friday morning.

It’s estimated that removal of the virus takes a couple of hours, that’s 600,000 hours (albeit that large corporations can remove the virus from multiple machines at the same time) to remove a virus that could have been prevented in the first place.

What was the attack and how does it work?

WannaCry was delivered via phishing emails, cleverly disguised and worded in order to trick the recipient into opening attachments which then released the malware onto their system.

Once installed, the malicious code is able to gain control of the host machine and it locks files and encrypts them in a way that they can no longer be accessed. A window is then displayed, demanding payment in bitcoin in order to regain access.

My machine has WannaCry, what are my options?

Unfortunately even if the payment is made, there is no guarantee that the malicious code will be removed.

There are various guides online that discuss the steps required to remove the malicious code, however ultimately they all involve the removal of the files that have been encrypted and so data is irretrievable.

Why was WannaCry preventable?

A hugely frustrating aspect about the WannaCry outbreak is that it was all largely preventable. Microsoft released a security patch in March which if implemented would have avoided the malware taking hold. This is unless you are a Windows XP user who did not have this update available.

The moral of the story?

Vulnerabilities in software are discovered on a daily basis and updates are released in order to patch the insecure elements of code. The sad part is that these updates are often ignored by end users, either because they don’t have the time to restart their machine, or perhaps they’re worried that updating a particular application’s code will break their site, resulting in lost time whilst they re-code elements of their site. WannaCry is a warning as to what can happen if software is not kept up to date, 600,000 hours (the estimated time taken to clean all the globally infected machines) is a lot of time wasted and money lost. If there is an available update for any software that you use, I’d recommend you think about the consequences of not installing it, rather than the effects of installing it.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Clook Internet

Latest news

1

Construction begins on new Civil Service office building in Talbot Gateway Alan McBride Muse Will Town Defence Infrastructure Organisation Jennifer Chard Defence Business Services Cllr Lynn Williams Blackpool Council Garry Bowker Vinci

Construction begins on new Civil Service office building in Talbot Gateway

20 May 2025

2

Skiddle raises over £750,000 for charities Skiddle cheque presentation to Alder Hey Hospital

Skiddle raises over £750,000 for charities

20 May 2025

3

Former Victorian Hotel approved for residential conversion The site

Former Victorian Hotel approved for residential conversion

19 May 2025

4

REVOLUTION PARK: Work starts on Darwen’s new home of advanced manufacturing Oliver Webber, Tracy Clavell-Bate and Tim Webber from Barnfield Group with Cllr Phil Riley, second from right, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council

REVOLUTION PARK: Work starts on Darwen’s new home of advanced manufacturing

19 May 2025

5

Two Cuckoo Gins named winners in The Gin Guide Awards 2025 Mark Long

Two Cuckoo Gins named winners in The Gin Guide Awards 2025

19 May 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV122 May/June Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
21 May 2025

LBV122 May/June Launch Event

Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 2TY

08:30 - 10:30

Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200pxtrident 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar
LBV Hub Seminars
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar

Cottons Hotel & Spa , Knutsford, WA16 0SU

16:00 - 18:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: May
Freelancer Meet-Up May.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: May

society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Liverpool Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-881365363-4862066883-1-original.20241023-085714.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
23 May 2025 - 23 May 2025

Liverpool Business Expo 2025

Aintree Racecourse , Liverpool , L9 5AS

09:00 - 15:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 29
Artboard 15.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
29 May 2025 - 29 May 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 29

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin