The CEO of Audax Cybersecurity, Mr.Kasimis Theofanis, gave a radio interview to CNN and the respected journalist Mr.Tasos Economou, regarding the cyber attacks that took place around the world resulting in the infection of 90+ countries and 200,000 machines.
You can listen to the extract here:
The WanaCrypt0r 2.0 virus exploits a Windows vulnerability, also known as EternalBlue, which was also exploited by intelligence agencies. Once it infiltrates a network, it reproduces itself and spreads to other computers. It takes the computers hostage and in order to free them and prevent the data from being deleted, it demands a ransom of $300 in Bitcoin.
The vulnerability in the Windows software, according to the hacker group Shadow Brokers, was exploited by the NSA to be able to hack into computers. Subsequently, Microsoft published a Windows update with instructions on how to install it at the following link.
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/msrc/2017/04/14/protecting-customers-and-evaluating-risk/
The riskiness of the software is such that it leaves little room for optimism. The only solution is prevention and installation of the Windows update, as even if the litres are paid, it is not a given that the affected computer will be restarted.
According to what he told CNN Greece, cybersecurity expert Theofanis Kasimis, there were no widespread cases on Friday, May 12, in our country, although there had been isolated incidents of companies that had faced such attacks in previous weeks.