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The ransomware WannaCry broke new grounds to show how digitally vulnerable we are - using NSA's spyware to infiltrate MS Windows and possibly holding to ransom an unreleased Disney film. Last year, ransomware extorted over $1 billion from victims. ET Magazine looks at the extortionists of the new millennium:
WannaCry The current attack by ransomware WannaCry is considered the worst ever, with newer versions appearing even as solutions are found to deal with existing versions.
* It surfaced on May 12, exploiting weaknesses in older versions of Windows, especially Windows XP, and locking computers and servers, demanding payments for unlocking them
* The weakness of Windows was fi rst found by US surveillance agency NSA. Tools developed by the NSA were outed by hacking group ShadowBrokers in mid-2016. The Wannacry creators have used these tools to infi ltrate Windows
* A kill-switch for WannaCry was accidentally found, but newer versions seem to have been launched that corrected this flaw
* The ransomware has demanded payments in bitcoins, equivalent to $300-600. More than 200,000 computers/servers were affected in 150 countries
Lazarus Group A North Korea-based cybercrime group is being suspected for perpetrating the WannaCry attack. They have been associated with...