[Software] Institutions and companies in 100 countries affected by the unprecedented global cyber attack

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UK, USA China, Russia, Spain, Italy, Vietnam and Taiwan are among the countries affected by "ransomware", an attack in which the perpetrators ask for money in exchange for freeing access. Europol said the cyber attack was on an "unprecedented" scale.

 

 

 

 

A cyberattack "of a dimension never before seen" managed to block access to the computer systems of state institutions and companies in several countries this Friday.

 

European police Europol said the cyber attack was on an "unprecedented" scale and warned that a "complex international investigation" was necessary to "identify the culprits.

 

Around 100 countries have reported problems, although Russia is believed to have been one of the most affected nations.

 

The massive ransomware campaign, an attack in which perpetrators ask for money in exchange for freeing access to systems, also affected institutions in the United Kingdom, the United States, China, Spain, Italy, Vietnam and Taiwan, among others.

 

Vehicle manufacturer Renault said it halted production at its French factories as a result of the attack.

 

This is a major cyber attack impacting organizations across Europe to a dimension never seen before.

 

Kevin Beaumont, security expert
The tools used in the attack were reported to have been developed by the United States National Security Agency (NSA).

 

Hackers claimed theft of the software, known as Eternal Blue, and its distribution online last month.

 

"This is a major cyber attack, impacting organizations across Europe to a dimension never seen before," said security expert Kevin Beaumont.

 

"We have seen more than 75,000 cases ... in 99 countries," Jakub Korustek wrote in a blog by computer security firm Avast published around 20:00 GMT on Friday.