On May 12, 2017 a new strain of the Ransom.CryptXXX (WannaCry) strain of ransomware began spreading widely impacting a large number of organizations, particularly in Europe. This virus specifically targets Microsoft Windows computers.
A hacking tool known as Eternal Blue, developed by US CIA has been enhanced by the hackers to super-charge an existing form of ransomware known as WannaCry, three senior cyber security analysts said.
Wcry is demanding a ransom of $300 to $600 in Bitcoin to be paid by May 15, or, in the event that deadline is missed, a higher fee by May 19. The messages left on the screen say files will remain encrypted. It’s not yet clear if there are flaws in the encryption scheme that might allow the victims to restore the files without paying the ransom.
If you have yet to install the Microsoft fix—MS17-010— you should do so immediately. You should also be extremely suspicious of all e-mails you receive, particularly those that ask the recipient to open attached documents or click on Web links.
If you are an existing client of ours on our Managed Services Platform, you would have already received the fix through your weekly patching cycle, If not please check with your IT and or Security provider to ensure you are covered
Read Reuters Article : http://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-security-hospitals-idUSKBN18820S
New NIST Guide Enables Digital Forensics Investigators
NIST has recently released a quick start guide that outlines the procedures used to place test data on a mobile device by forensics experts during an investigation. In many criminal cases, the authorities can gain valuable information by examining smartphones,...
Using Yoast SEO to Write Effective Meta Descriptions
The term, “meta description” may seem foreign to some but we all see these descriptions each time we search for something online. The meta description can contain up to 320 characters and should be an interesting summary of what your website is all about. It shows up...
Another Day, Another HIPAA Breach – Keep Your Name Off the “Wall of Shame”
According to SC Media: In January 2018, a Long Island, N.Y., medical practice left an exposed port normally used for remote synchronization open, exposing at least 42,000 medical records. UpGuard Director of Cyber Risk Research Chris Vickery found that port 873,...