EXPERT REACTION: WannaCry malware holds the world to ransom

With growth in technology comes an increase in computer crimes and criminal activities. The global ransomware attack is a clear case of cyberterrorism. The perpetrators of such attacks create fear, destruction and disruption at the click of a button. Countries and security organisations must be more vigilant and prepared to thwart such attacks. More importantly, once such attacks occur, the challenge authorities and governments around the world face in dealing with cyber-attacks is their transnational nature and lack of a cohesive international legal framework to prosecute those responsible for such activities. Cyber-attacks are dynamic and hence the preparedness of our security and government agencies must also be dynamic. Such attacks are a reminder of the threats that accompany the use of modern technology. Society demands governments and security agencies develop a comprehensive response to wrestle such attacks that are proportionate and cost-effective. 

Holding people to ransom is not new – what is new is the reach that digital ransomware has. The usual suspect in people falling prey to ransomware is the phishing email, an email with the link that is tagged with malware – a virus or a Trojan horse – anything that will allow the sender to somehow take over your computer, email account etc. In the case of ransomware, the link usually results in your computer files being encrypted and the perpetrator asking for money to unlock your files. Regularly backing up your files, onto secure off-site storage (anyplace, like cloud storage - that is not your computer) will help individuals and companies achieve some hardening against such an attack.

The global Wannacry ransomware attack highlights the need for cyber education, awareness and vigilance. Individuals and organisations should upgrade and update computers to ensure they have the latest operating systems and patches, install anti-virus software that has anti-malware and anti-ransomware capability and backup personal data often.

Global ransomware attacks are just the tip of the iceberg today and malicious attacks by global criminal organisations are occurring at an ever-increasing rate. Whilst the threat of becoming a victim of a ransomware attack is daunting we can take harm minimisation precautions. Computers need to be maintained and protected so it is important to check that regular updates are occurring.

The Wannacry ransomware is likely to be adapted and released again in coming days or weeks so it is vital that we take the time to ensure that we’re prepared. Government security agencies have collected a wide range of malware and ransomware now and new attacks are often carried out using an update of previously released code. For organisations, it is important to subscribe to organisations, like the Australian Cyber Security Centre, to receive threat notifications so that early action can prevent a threat from becoming an unwanted incident.