A new ransomware outbreak is spreading very quickly

Security researchers are warning of a ransomware outbreak that is spreading around the globe. Hospitals in the UK have been hit particularly hard, with reports of entire wards being shut down, patients being turned away, and staff sent home, Forbes reports.

The ransomware appears to be one of several tools belonging to the National Security Agency (NSA) that a hacking group known as The Shadow Brokers has been leaking to the web over the past several months. According to an Arstechnica report last month, The Shadow Brokers leaked around a gigabyte worth of weaponized software exploits, including one that targeted most versions of Windows.

This particular ransomware is called WCry. It's also been called several other names, including WannaCry, WannaCryptor, WannaCrypt, and Wana Decryptor. They're all the same and reference version 2.0 of WCry, BleepingComputer reports.

Twitter via MalwareHunterTeam. Click for original.

Twitter via MalwareHunterTeam. Click for original. (Image credit: MalwareHunterTeam)

As the day has gone on, WCry has spread to the U.K. and other parts of the world. Earlier in the day a researcher for Kaspersky Lab noted 45,000 attacks in 74 countries, and said that WCry's list of victims was "growing fast."

There is a live map at MalwareTech that shows WCry spreading to victims in real time. According to Avast security researcher Jakub Kroustek, WCry has claimed over 57,000 PCs in just a few hours, some of the first of which were Spanish companies, such as utility outfits Telefonica, Gas Natural, and Iberdrola.

Forbes says victims have been asked to cough up $300 to remove the infection and decrypt their files. Otherwise, their data remains encrypted and inaccessible. On top of that, victims are being told that after 7 days, their files will be lost forever if the ransom is not paid.

The ransomware is said to have initially spread through spam containing fake invoices, job offers, and other attempts aimed at random email addresses. However, it's also been able to spread through the worm-like EternalBlue exploit.

Paul Lilly

Paul has been playing PC games and raking his knuckles on computer hardware since the Commodore 64. He does not have any tattoos, but thinks it would be cool to get one that reads LOAD"*",8,1. In his off time, he rides motorcycles and wrestles alligators (only one of those is true).

Latest in Hardware
A woman wearing a VR headset with dramatic, colourful lighting across the background
'World’s smallest LEDs' could lead to accurately lit screens with 127,000 pixels per inch and much more immersive VR
The NES themed 8BitDo Retro mechanical gaming keyboard on a blue background
I love the 8BitDo Retro C64 keyboard but I'd pick its cheaper NES-themed model near its lowest price ever during Amazon's Big Spring Sale
The snazzy red and black HyperX Cloud Alpha wireless headphones float in a teal void. The microphone is attached to the headset.
The best wireless gaming headset is now even better in the Amazon Big Spring Sale, boasting a more than $50 discount
A chip being held up in an Intel fab
Intel is reportedly 'working to finalize commitments from Nvidia' as a foundry partner, suggesting gaming potential for the 18A node
Amazon box
Don't panic! The 'Do Not Send Voice Recordings' option Amazon just removed was only used by 0.03% of customers and they can still have it
Digital generated image of people surrounded by interactive transparent and glowing panels with data. Visualising smart technology, blockchain and artificial intelligence
Now I shall demand the cookies! Proposed new browsing agreement turns the tables and lets users dictate terms to websites
Latest in News
An Enshrouded player in a recreation of Erebor from The Lord of the Rings
Kings under the Mountain! 33 Enshrouded players spent 10,000 hours to recreate this iconic location from The Lord of the Rings
A mech awakens.
Mecha Break developer is considering unlocking all mechs following open beta feedback
Lara Croft Unified Art
Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics lays off 17 employees 'to better align our current business needs and the studio's future success'
A long bendy arm stealing money from people in a subway car
'You're a very long arm. You steal things. It's a comedy game,' explains developer of comedy game where you steal things with a very long arm
The heroes are attacked by monsters
Pillars of Eternity is getting turn-based combat to mark its 10th anniversary, and that means PC Gamer editors will soon be arguing about combat mechanics again
Image of Ronaldo from Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves trailer
It doesn't really make sense that soccer star Ronaldo is now a Fatal Fury character, but if you follow the money you can see how it happened