

How did the attack happen and what was affected? It then demands payment in bitcoin in order to regain access. Once your computer has been affected, it locks up the files and encrypts them in a way that you cannot access them anymore. The ransomware in this case, known as ‘WannaCry’, is often delivered via emails which trick the recipient into opening attachments and releasing malware onto their system in a technique known as phishing. Costing the UK £92 million and running up global costs of up to a whopping £6 billion. One of the most well-known examples of a ransomware attack which hit companies worldwide in the spring of 2017 was the WannaCry outbreak, afflicting over 200,000 computers in over 150 countries. If the victim doesn’t pay up, the attacker discards the decryption keys, making the data permanently inaccessible.įind out more about ransomware and how it works here WannaCry

Each missed deadline leads to a higher ransom demand and often, destroyed files. The demand often includes a series of deadlines for payment. Once it compromises a system, it quietly encrypts every data file it finds, then displays a ransom note to the user demanding an online payment of hundreds or thousands of pounds (to be paid in cryptocurrency like Bitcoin) in return for the decryption keys needed to restore the user’s locked files. Ransomware is a type of malicious software that infects computer servers, desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones, often spreading across networks to other devices.
