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by DChan on Fri May 12, 2017 3:53 pm
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Ransomware infections reported worldwide



Massive ransomware attack hits 99 countries



Dozens of countries affected by ransomware cyberattack
 

by baldsparrow on Fri May 12, 2017 4:52 pm
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I understand the ransomeware attack only affects computers running unpatched Windows XP ... cant be too many of those still around surely (outside the British NHS)
 

by SantaFeJoe on Fri May 12, 2017 6:19 pm
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Definitely not true, baldsparrow. There are many forms of ransomeware since around 2005. Many individuals, hospitals and law enforcement agencies have been affected. A long time ago, I saw a story about photos being held for ransom and, surprisingly, this expert recommended paying the ransom!

https://www.wired.com/2015/09/hacker-le ... hats-rise/

https://blog.malwarebytes.com/cybercrim ... hing-lure/

Just Google "ransomware" and you will see how prevalent it is.

Joe
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by SantaFeJoe on Fri May 12, 2017 6:30 pm
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Here's one on a hospital that paid about $17,000:

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ransomware- ... or-ransom/

BTW, the second link above is not about ransomware, but is of interest to photographers.

Joe
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by baldsparrow on Fri May 12, 2017 6:49 pm
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SantaFeJoe wrote:Definitely not true, baldsparrow. There are many forms of ransomeware since around 2005. Many individuals, hospitals and law enforcement agencies have been affected. A long time ago, I saw a story about photos being held for ransom and, surprisingly, this expert recommended paying the ransom!

The original post was about the widespread attackthat is going around today ... that has been identified as being targeted at people running XP ... yes, I agree, there are other ransomeware nasties out there but today's is XP targeted.
 

by DChan on Fri May 12, 2017 7:29 pm
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Actually, the original post is the question "How much are you willing to pay for your photographs?"

This time it may not affect you, but it could happen to you in the future. Would you pay? And is there a limit?

Based on threads I've read here, some of you turn off the auto-update and some even don't want any update...


Last edited by DChan on Fri May 12, 2017 7:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
 

by SantaFeJoe on Fri May 12, 2017 7:33 pm
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baldsparrow,

Can you provide a link showing that? From what I found, the NSA tools leaked and being used, work on computers running Windows 7 and 8, as well.

Joe
Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.  -Pablo Picasso
 

by baldsparrow on Fri May 12, 2017 7:59 pm
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SantaFeJoe wrote:baldsparrow,

Can you provide a link showing that? From what I found, the NSA tools leaked and being used, work on computers running Windows 7 and 8, as well.

Joe

It was a quote from a computer academic from a U.K. University ... I think in an article from the Guardian newspaper. He specifically referred to XP as patches for it have not been issued as it is no longer supported.  I think the original article has been edited since I read it but I found this on the CBC website which points in the same direction .... quote:  "[font=Arial, sans-serif]The ransomware's rapid spread suggests that many organizations have been slow to update their systems to newer versions of Microsoft's Windows operating system that address the bug, which likely aided the worm's movement."  I know the UK NHS uses a lot of XP machines.[/font]

22:11 ... Found it: (quote):  [font='Guardian Text Egyptian Web', Georgia, serif]“This was eminently predictable in lots of ways,” said Ryan Kalember from cybersecurity firm Proofpoint. “As soon as the Shadow Brokers dump came out everyone [in the security industry] realized that a lot of people wouldn’t be able to install a patch, especially if they used an operating system like Windows XP [which many NHS computers still use], for which there is no patch.”[/font]
 

by Neilyb on Sat May 13, 2017 8:48 am
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Another reason to have an off site backup of all my RAW files and catalogues.
 

by E.J. Peiker on Sat May 13, 2017 11:33 am
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Neilyb wrote:Another reason to have an off site backup of all my RAW files and catalogues.
That doesn't really solve the problem in this situation.  When this type of ransom event strikes, your entire computer is encrypted including all your apps, all your documents, everything.  If you had an off site, unconnected clone of your system and a complete backup of all of your files, then you might be able to fully restore everything but just having an offsite backup of your photos doesn't really solve the problem of losing access.  Of course you could attach that offsite backup to a different computer and get around it that way.
 

by SantaFeJoe on Sat May 13, 2017 12:02 pm
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Microsoft issued a security update/patch for XP and some older systems:

http://www.zdnet.com/article/wannacrypt ... yptr=yahoo

Joe
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by Mike in O on Sat May 13, 2017 1:29 pm
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The fault lies with the consumer...auto updates patched this flaw in March. It is imperative that you keep your computer up to date.
 

by DChan on Sat May 13, 2017 2:58 pm
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The paid version of Malwarebytes and Hitman Pro has ransomware protection. I understand many here prefer the free version which does not have real-time protection.
 

by signgrap on Sat May 13, 2017 3:29 pm
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You have to "feel" for those non-profits that are still running Win XP. MS is no longer updating/patching XP. This means that those hospitals in GB that had there computers held for ransom had NO WAY to patch their computer system against the ransom ware virus. So why didn't the hospitals upgrade their OS to Win 7, 8 or 10? Just imagine the cost - software license to MS, add the IT cost and in all likelihood they would have to buy new computers and servers as the new software would require more powerful hardware as the software won't run on older slow computers. How many of you had to get new more powerful computers to run a new OS? For a non-profit hospital that is just "getting by" and not making enough money to pay for new software and hardware for the entire hospital what are they to do. The same goes for "for profit businesses" that are just getting by. I think MS has to rethink their policy of not updating XP certainly as it pertains to non-profits and human services.
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by DChan on Sat May 13, 2017 3:35 pm
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Then again, upgrading to Windows 10 was free, only that many were suspicious of the motive of Microsoft (even today).

Also, you don't need the latest machine to run Windows 10. Sometimes it's the programs that run in Wins 10 that you're upgrading your machines for.
 

by E.J. Peiker on Sat May 13, 2017 4:44 pm
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http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/natio ... n-n758516?
Relatively concise article describing this world wide ransomware attack.
 

by signgrap on Sat May 13, 2017 7:08 pm
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DChan wrote:Then again, upgrading to Windows 10 was free, only that many were suspicious of the motive of Microsoft (even today).

Also, you don't need the latest machine to run Windows 10. Sometimes it's the programs that run in Wins 10 that you're upgrading your machines for.
But you forget the rest of my post as the cost of the OS software is a mere fraction of the cost when you're upgrading an entire hospital computer network. The IT cost would be enormous and then you need to add the cost of upgrading all the old XP computer hardware. Added to that the hospital may need to update part or most of the hospital software in order to run properly on the new OS. Healthcare software is very complicated that is very difficult to get right. Once you get it right you don't want to mess it up by changing the OS, so I understand why hospitals don't want to upgrade an OS. It's very unfortunate that MS stopped supporting XP.
Dick Ludwig
 

by Robert on Sat May 13, 2017 7:54 pm
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Apparently now due to this ransomware attack, MS is supplying free patches and updates for all MS OS users including XP users.
https://threatpost.com/microsoft-releases-xp-patch-for-wannacry-ransomware/125671/
 

by Jeff Colburn on Tue May 16, 2017 2:09 pm
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I do a complete backup every month, and important changes between backups gets backed up on a flash drive. So ransomware wouldn't get a penny from me.

Have Fun,
Jeff
Fine Art Prints and Stock Photography of Arizona www.JeffColburn.com See my ebooks in the NatureScapes Store.
 

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