NHS computers attacked

The Fear

The Fear

A Wise Man (once sat next to him)
seems a 'kid' (22) stopped the malaware global attack

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-39907049

Details of the attack:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39909441


 
99 countries - how long before Microsoft receive calls to support self made defunct OS's for longer.
 
Fascinating the havoc some of these cyber criminals (state sponsored possible) could cause.

Frightening really.
 
Just reading about that JF: amazing isn't it that it takes a team of volunteers and a 22 year old to sort this out.

1 hospital I believe was still running on 95 OS ffs
 
Could be many reasons why older o/s is still being used. Terrible reporting today on the media about this today. Total hysteria asking people like junior doctors what they think about the hack. What the hell do they know about IT? Maybe Sky News will come and interview me next time there is a Ebola outbreak?

One of my customers had this infection or one like it a few months ago. Luckily I managed to retrieve their information using a little program called Shadow Explorer. It is a nasty infection though so beware opening those attachments in emails.
 
Agrees Wurzel however a decent anti virus etc. should block them. I accidentally hit the wrong button a few years ago, realizing as soon as I had done it I had hit open attachment instead of shred permanently; thank God my security blocked it. I never open attachments unless I am absolutely certain who they are from however it is easy to do it accidentally I do know
 
No, anti virus may not have blocked this malware. For a start it may not even be a virus and therefore not even picked up by anti virus. Secondly there is no such thing as a decent anti virus. In university trials a few years back it was discovered that not a single anti virus solution detected the latest viruses. Thirdly, often when a user instructs a pc to open an attachment it overrides the security, that is why I advise all my customers not to open any attachment if they do not know that the sender has actually put together that attachment. That means no slideshows of puppies, or dirty jokes sent to hundreds of emails. In fact I now warn people that they should treat all email with the highest level of suspicion as it is a compromised form of communication.
 
I suppose it's a case of if everyone hangs their washing out at the same time, sods law saying sooner or later some of it will get wet....

Did I just say that?

:23:

 
Wurzel - 14/5/2017 08:25

No, anti virus may not have blocked this malware. For a start it may not even be a virus and therefore not even picked up by anti virus. Secondly there is no such thing as a decent anti virus. In university trials a few years back it was discovered that not a single anti virus solution detected the latest viruses. Thirdly, often when a user instructs a pc to open an attachment it overrides the security, that is why I advise all my customers not to open any attachment if they do not know that the sender has actually put together that attachment. That means no slideshows of puppies, or dirty jokes sent to hundreds of emails. In fact I now warn people that they should treat all email with the highest level of suspicion as it is a compromised form of communication.
Click to expand...

Do you know if these ransomware attacks only target the C drive, or are second and network drives vulnerable as well? I've been installing Windows on a smaller partition, and creating a D drive for the main file storage. It seems to have worked so far, but that might just be dumb luck.
 
Well heath it was reported by an Security expert on the BBC that this particular malware will infect partitions, network drives and even Dropbox. This is backed up by an IT professional I do work for who said my customer was very lucky that his NAS drive wasn't encrypted.

I think we have to guard against hysteria. Run upto date antivirus software, keep windows updated, backup data, do not visit dodgy websites, porn etc, do not open any attachments unless you know their origins, ignore emails asking for you to update details, or to check a purchase. Have a state of mind that the world is out to get you, because it is! LOL.
 
LOL. It's certainly good to be suspicious. The trouble is I've ended up with lots of elderly ladies as clients, and they panic at everything. The amount of phone calls I get that are about nothing.

A few have phoned the numbers that pop up sometimes, telling you that you're infected. One even paid for the software before calling me. I would say that never call any number or pay anyone. They now have her number and call regularly. I am hoping to be there one day, when they call.

With the price of storage these days, backup is the best solution. It amazes me that people risk their family photos the way they do.
 
lol, agree with what you say about interviewing people who don't know much/anything about the subject. Same as the random interviews with people re the election.

Went on a stream site last year and my malware programme when absolutely barmy, reminded me why I never go on them. People don't realise the amount of stuff those sites can be loaded with really do they?

 
Well heath it was reported by an Security expert on the BBC that this particular malware will infect partitions, network drives and even Dropbox. This is backed up by an IT professional I do work for who said my customer was very lucky that his NAS drive wasn't encrypted.

I think we have to guard against hysteria. Run upto date antivirus software, keep windows updated, backup data, do not visit dodgy websites, porn etc, do not open any attachments unless you know their origins, ignore emails asking for you to update details, or to check a purchase. Have a state of mind that the world is out to get you, because it is! LOL.
 
For anyone affected here is a removal guide

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-wannacry-wana-decryptor-ransomware
 
2 go-lives postponed at our place. Were supposed to happen on a week I wasn't on call. No doubt they'll be re-arranged when I am on call and I'll get lumbared with them
 
Apparently the NHS groups were sent the patches to update a month ago and not all of them have. Those who have updated weren't affected, they say

Thank you for the link too Wurzel. I don't need it however it is useful to keep as it is from a trusted source in you :14:
 
The reason the NHS is still running ancient computer programmes is highly likely to be the billions of pounds Invested in the system by the last Labour Government.

I have had to look it up but it was somewhere in the region of 10 Billion pounds wasted on bringing the NHS to a single system which linked the entire system for all.

So the hospital, doctors surgeries, A+E everyone singing off the same page.
Sadly it was a fucking pot mess and that I believe is the reason so many are so far behind.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/18/nhs-records-system-10bn

 
What about back in May 2015, when the government announced that it would not extend its Windows XP support agreement with Microsoft for a second year? Surely that is a contributory cause?
 
I loved XP I though it was the best thing since sliced bread but I have been won over by Windows 10.

 
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