{"id":57073,"date":"2017-05-17T11:06:59","date_gmt":"2017-05-17T16:06:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pcmatic.com\/blog\/?p=57073"},"modified":"2017-05-17T11:06:59","modified_gmt":"2017-05-17T16:06:59","slug":"wannacry-dead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pcmatic.com\/blog\/wannacry-dead\/","title":{"rendered":"Is WannaCry Dead?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is the Ransomware that Ruled the World Dead?<\/h4>\n

Quite possibly, yes. \u00a0WannaCry ransomware<\/a> hit over 200,000 devices in 150 different countries on Friday, May 12, 2017. \u00a0The malicious attack was distributed by both SMB ports and phishing emails. \u00a0This cyber attack sent the world into a panic, and rightfully so. \u00a0The concept of ransomware, or malicious software that encrypts computer files and holds them hostage until payment demands are met, is nothing new. \u00a0It has actually been around for almost 30 years<\/a>. \u00a0However, the cyber security industry has seen major spikes in ransomware attacks in the last two years. \u00a0So, although WannaCry may be dead, ransomware is still very much alive.<\/p>\n

The Windows vulnerability this particular ransomware variant was spreading through, EternalBlue, has been patched. \u00a0Also, each identified version of WannaCry has been added to anti-virus’ blacklist, meaning it will be blocked. \u00a0However, cyber criminals could make alternative versions that are not on the blacklist. \u00a0This means more infections could spread. \u00a0Although, users who are using a security solution that detects malware from a whitelist will remain protected.<\/p>\n

The PC Matic malware research team has not seen any new WannaCry variants since 12 p.m. EST on May 12th. \u00a0This could mean two different things. \u00a0First, the cyber criminals stopped writing different versions of the ransomware. \u00a0Or, they realized attacking PC Matic users was a complete waste of time. \u00a0Now, to be fair, we have no evidence of the latter. \u00a0What we do know is, our malware research team saw attempted malicious executions — which were all blocked — for a few hours Friday morning. \u00a0Again, by 12 p.m. EST, those attempts stopped.<\/p>\n

Staying Protected<\/h4>\n

WannaCry may no longer be a threat, but cyber crime is not. \u00a0Keeping your data safe and your privacy secure has never been more critical. \u00a0Use the following tips to keep your data safe:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Back up your data regularly. \u00a0If you use an external device to back up your data, be sure to unplug it after the back-up process is complete. \u00a0Uncertain how to back up? \u00a0Learn more here<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  2. Keep all of your programs current and up-to-date. \u00a0This includes all of your daily programs, as well as your security software.<\/li>\n
  3. Update your operating system to patch any security vulnerabilities.<\/li>\n
  4. Use a security solution that implements application whitelisting technology as its primary method of malware detection.<\/li>\n
  5. Think before you click! \u00a0Often times people start clicking before they read. \u00a0This is disaster waiting to happen. \u00a0Understand what you are downloading — both programs and files. \u00a0If a website, pop-up or email seems suspicious, avoid it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Is the Ransomware that Ruled the World Dead? Quite possibly, yes. \u00a0WannaCry ransomware hit over 200,000 devices in 150 different countries on Friday, May 12, 2017. \u00a0The malicious attack was distributed by both SMB ports and phishing emails. \u00a0This cyber attack sent the world into a panic, and rightfully so. \u00a0The concept of ransomware, or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":55249,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4949,5000,183],"tags":[5029,4363,5112,5252],"class_list":["post-57073","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ransomware","category-ransomwarewar","category-tips","tag-cyber-crime","tag-ransomware","tag-ransomware-attacks","tag-wannacry"],"yoast_head":"\nIs WannaCry Dead?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"New WannaCry ransomware variants haven't been seen since Friday. 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