WannaCry2.0 is a very nasty piece of malware.
Last week, we talked about a critical SMB security oversight that Microsoft has not only been called out on, but has patched. However, there is a highly dangerous threat that is exploiting this security flaw and its name is WannaCry 2.0. This crypto-ransomware is vicious and has capabilities that other, previous ransomware programs did not have. Today we’re going to be talking about it in more detail and letting you know how to stay safe. Let’s take a look.
WannaCry 2.0 infiltrates and spreads on its own.
Over the weekend, this malware infected over 200,000 Windows PCs, according to The Hacker News. That number is unprecedented, but it only speaks to the danger of this ransomware. Unlike other types of ransomware, this program doesn’t need to be let in to every machine to infect every machine. That is to say, it only needs to infiltrate one PC within a network to get to them all due to its ability to scan for other unpatched PCs within the network and immediate self-multiply, rather than needing each user to click on the malicious link or download the malicious file. To get into one PC, this bug will worm its way into the system by exploiting the SMB flaw in outdated Windows operating systems.
What can you do to avoid WannaCry 2.0?
Updating your PC is of the utmost importance for many reasons. Developers are always putting out patches and updates that will keep your PC protected and running at optimal levels and in the case of WannaCry 2.0, those patches are vital to your computer’s health and survival. You should also be very cautious of suspicious links and emails from people you do not know. Hackers are persistent and very sneaky. So, backup your files and be careful. WannaCry 2.0 is out there.
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