Computers in Baltimore and elsewhere Crippled
The software tool, known as EternalBlue, has helped cripple computers in Baltimore and elsewhere.
That was the headline of an article Martin Giles San Francisco bureau chief of MIT that was published on MIT Technology Review online, on February 19th, 2019. Here is an extract from the article:
“The news: According to the New York Times, EternalBlue has been used in a “ransomware” attack that has encrypted files in computer systems used by city officials in Baltimore. The hackers have demanded around $100,000 in Bitcoin to liberate thousands of machines, but the city is refusing to cough up the ransom. Residents can no longer pay things like utility bills and parking tickets online while the chaos continues.
A cyber own goal: EternalBlue, which helps spread malicious software swiftly across computers, was created by the US National Security Agency (NSA) to exploit a flaw it had discovered in Microsoft’s operating system. The agency reportedly kept its tool secret for five years, but in 2017 a mysterious group called the Shadow Brokers leaked the code. Microsoft promptly issued a software fix, but Baltimore’s experience suggests it hasn’t been applied rigorously enough yet.
Coming to America: Hackers initially used EternalBlue outside the US, notably as part of the notorious WannaCry ransomware attack that caused havoc in the UK’s National Health Service. Now it’s being turned on Baltimore and other targets, which the Times says include the city of San Antonio.
Read more >>>( https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612974/once-hailed-as-unhackable-blockchains-are-now-getting-hacked/)”
Ransomware is a type of malicious software, or malware, designed to deny access to a computer system or data until a ransom is paid.
Ransomware can be devastating to an individual or an organization
The exploit in the computer systems by the EternalBlue to perform a Ransomware shows how computers anywhere can be hacked and malfunctions at any time with ease for purposes of acquiring a ransom if no precautions are taken before they attack.
The secret is therefore in not implementing a secure system or systems that desist from attacks, but rather ones where attacks can be prevented by undertaking on-going monitoring, and given the guidelines on how to protect against such attacks.
And that is where the awareness on Ransomware by Summit Consulting Ltd comes in. When it comes to cyber security, there is nothing like being over secured. You need confidence that your mission critical resources, core banking server, enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and other critical servers like mobile and internet banking servers, email servers and ATM servers and CCTV servers, to mention but a few are safe and sound from risks of attacks from phishers, manipulation, unauthorized modification and data leakages or deletion
