New global ransomware attack hits East Europe and spreading

Wynona said:

And here's another one from ZDNet this morning, Andre.

Ransomware in disguise: Experts say Petya out to destroy not ransom | ZDNet

It just gets worse and worse and worse . . .

I've read all these now. It seems to me to get this you need to do all of these:

1. Don't install an upgrade for an accounting software popular in the Ukraine (yeah right)
2. Try to upgrade your Windows through Windows Update (although the SMB error fixed since March)
3. Don't run as an administrator account even though everyone since 2000BC knew this was idiotic. (You have to run as admin for this to work)
4. Look again. If you are still running as local Admin then you deserve it.

If I'm right though then anyone impacted deserves it as they are idiots.

Upgrade your system and don't run as Admin. That is all.

Wynona said:

Who are you kidding, IX???? Where did you get this list of "rules"????

And someone who doesn't know all your rules"deserves it as they are idiots"!!!!

Absolutely no one deserves to be hit by this attack, not even you.

I made the rules up. According to a link earlier in this thread 90% of UK police use XP as does their latest aircraft carrier

Now there are only 2 reasons for still making yourself vulnerable to this attack.

Take your pick. It is a political question which is against the rules to discuss but the only reason you would be at this point suffer is because of lack of money (to fix it) or lack of knowledge (to even know).

Wynona said:

You still don't get it . . . lack of sense!?!?

Yup. I get it.

I didn't install any updates for any Ukrainian accounting software. Or any software come to that.

Why are you having a go at me? Should I install some random update to prove I have no sense as well? Or open all my ports (which are closed by default on Windows) or run as an Administrator? Just to prove you don't have to be an idiot to get malware?

Sure anyone can get malware but there are obvious things you can do to ameliorate the risk.

lx07 said:

I made the rules up. According to a link earlier in this thread 90% of UK police use XP as does their latest aircraft carrier

Now there are only 2 reasons for still making yourself vulnerable to this attack.

Take your pick. It is a political question which is against the rules to discuss but the only reason you would be at this point suffer is because of lack of money (to fix it) or lack of knowledge (to even know).

That story about the carrier is rubbish. There may be XP computers in some sub-systems but they are not connected to the internet.

Steve C said:

That story about the carrier is rubbish. There may be XP computers in some sub-systems but they are not connected to the internet.

I think so too. It sounded a bit improbable.

However it is true that some organizations can't upgrade or make simple fixes as they don't have the money (or competence) to do so.

The same article about the MET police in London showed a job offer for the PM to undertake the whole upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 8 with a salary of GBP 30k. 30k is a joke.

I'm sorry but GBP 30k will not get you a project manager who can even tie their shoe-laces. Perhaps you don't like it but (having worked for many IT Project Managers, none who earned less than double that) it is alas true. You would earn more being the manager of the local Tesco supermarket.