WannaCry Ransomware Attack: All You Should Know

The WannaCry ransomware attack of May 2017 exploited a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows systems, leading to widespread financial losses, operational disruptions, and reputational damage.

The WannaCry attack resulted in estimated global financial damages ranging from $4 billion to $8 billion, affecting organizations across various sectors, including healthcare, transportation, and telecommunications.

In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) experienced significant operational disruptions due to WannaCry, with nearly 19,000 medical appointments canceled and an estimated financial impact of £92 million (approximately $120 million).

The NHS faced reputational harm following the WannaCry attack, as the incident exposed vulnerabilities in its cybersecurity measures, leading to public scrutiny and a loss of trust in its ability to protect patient data and maintain service continuity.

These impacts underscore the critical importance of robust cybersecurity practices to mitigate the risks associated with ransomware attacks like WannaCry.

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1. What is WannaCry Ransomware?

WannaCry is ransomware that infects itself by exploiting a vulnerability in the Windows Server Message Block (SMB) protocol, which allows Windows machines on a network to communicate with one another, and specially crafted packets could trick Microsoft’s implementation into executing an attacker’s code.

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2. How did WannaCry spread?

Wannacry managed to infect 230,000 users globally with ransomware by exploiting Windows security flaws via the Internet. The ability of the virus to transmit itself to other systems via infected linked devices has increased the risk to the point of disaster. Even if the first wave of assaults is defeated, if the self-renewing later versions of attacks are not taken seriously and the necessary actions are not performed, the information saved in the first wave may be permanently lost.

3. Risk of Infection Via Email

Wannacry has begun to spread via e-mail after being infected by exploiting a Windows security flaw via the Internet. Wannacry software has also penetrated business internal networks with connections to emails and hazardous information. According to cyber threat intelligence firms, the actual major threat will start with business network infection.

4. WannaCry Components

The DoublePulsar dropper, a self-contained program that selects the other elements A program that could encrypt and decrypt data, Records include encryption keys, An open-source software application allowing secret conversation.

5. The Effect of the WannaCry Attack

WannaCry ransomware burst in 2017, infecting over 230,000 systems worldwide and costing billions of dollars. Despite the fact that new strains of this ransomware were discovered in 2018, the attack had a significant impact on two industries: healthcare and large manufacturers.

6. Who created WannaCry?

The US believes that Park Jin Hyok, a 34-year-old North Korean, is one of the many individuals behind a long string of malware attacks and interventions.

7. Who Stopped the WannaCry Ransomware?

Marcus Hutchins, better known by his nickname MalwareTech, has been charged with two felonies related to the creation and distribution of malware. Hutchins was hailed as a hero in May 2017 for his involvement in halting the global spread of the WannaCry ransomware.

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Editor's Note: This blog was updated on November 14, 2024.