Tech Experts Warn Crippling International Cyber Attack WILL Reach Australia

Govt says 'be alert'


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Tech experts are warning this latest cyber attack crippling companies, businesses, banks and airports across Europe, particularly the Ukraine, WILL make it down under. 

The attack is blocking users from accessing their computer's files or hard drives, and demanding they pay a ransom in bitcoin to a designated account.

Trouble is, some people have reported saying they've paid the amount requested but still have no access to their systems. 

Techspert Trevor Long says the software we're seeing this morning doesn't discriminate. 

"The reasons these things can't be restricted to a single nation is because they attack the vulnerability of a computer. So let's say a particular version of Windows has a vulnerability.. well, if your computer isn't up to date, it'll be affected"

"Unfortunately, businesses are the most likely to not update your computers because they think it'll take too long or it's going to affect their systems."

Long says keeping your system up to date is the number one rule. 

"These attacks hit Windows computers because there are literally billions of Windows computers across the world BUT as with any user of any device, whether it's a phone, tablet or computer, keep your software up to date. Mac iOS, Apple devices and Windows and you'll be safe from any sort of cyber attack" 

On top of that, he says we should be investing around $100 a year on internet security. 

"You don't leave home without car insurance, you shouldn't have a computer without security"

"I think keep to the big four - Kaspersky, Norton, Trend Micro, McAfee - those are reputable brands that are spending a lot of resources detecting, tracking and protecting from these kind of attacks"

"Internet security looks for these attacks, looks to protect you from clicking on links that you shouldn't go to and that's the level of security you really must have in this day and age to keep you safe, whether you're a small business or just a home user with photos of family and friends on there that could be lost in this kind of attack" 

"These attacks hit Windows computers because there are literally billions of Windows computers across the world BUT as with any user of any device, whether it's a phone, tablet or computer, keep your software up to date. Mac iOS, Apple devices and Windows and you'll be safe from any sort of cyber attack" 

The government's cyber security minister Dan Tehan says authorities are monitoring the situation and have been in contact with Five Eyes partners. 

 

 

Claire Sherwood

27 June 2017

Article by:

Claire Sherwood




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