The WannaCry ransomware attack has spread to 150 countries

Since its discovery on Friday afternoon, the WannaCry ransomware attack has continued to spread this weekend, impacting over 10,000 organizations and 200,000 individuals in over 150 countries, according to European authorities. However, while measures have been taken to slow the spread of the malware, new variations have begun to surface.

This morning, Europol director Rob Wainwright told the BBC that the cyberattack is “unprecedented in its scale,” and noted that it will likely continue as people return to work on Monday. While Microsoft took the unusual step to issue a patch for Windows XP, the patch will only work if installed, and authorities have been warning businesses to ensure that their systems are updated.

Image: SecureList / AO Kaspersky Lab

Wainwright said that businesses should ensure that their systems are updated with the latest security patches to help prevent further infections and to slow the spread of the ransomware. He noted that Europol is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to try and discover the people behind the attack.

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