Cyber attack on NHS

[dingit]

This doesn't look good.

[aginghippy]

i wonder what someone would do it for though.

Why do hackers do anything? Because they can. To show their power. To cause chaos.

[dingit]

Dh works for a large insurance company and it something they are working on to offer insurance for. The implications are scary.

[SilverdaleGlen]

What a shitty thing to do, on a service that can actually affect life and death.

Hope anonymous tracks the fuckers down and ruins them.

[CainDinglesLeatherJacket]

Just commented on the other thread about this, but it seems financially motivated - $300 sent anonymously through bitcoin will apparently unlock your computer and restore your files, according to the screen showing on attacked computers.

[SemiNormal]

Just read this! How fucking horrible!! Does anyone know if they have access to patient files?! Seriously disturbing news.

[HeadingToBed]

What kind of sick fuck would do this?

[CainDinglesLeatherJacket]

@SemiNormal I don't think they do, however they do have the ability to completely remove files from the computers infected.

It doesn't appear to be an attack based on gaining information, just causing a disturbance for financial gain.

[poorbuthappy]

Not sure is if related but our systems (based in Spain) are also down due to ransom ware attacks.

[SemiNormal]

I don't think they do, however they do have the ability to completely remove files from the computers infected - I really hope they don't. I hope they don't delete the files either! I hope they find whoever is behind this and lock them up for a VERY long time!!

As an aside they seem to be asking for a relatively small sum of money considering the seriousness of this crime. Makes me wonder if it's perhaps someone very young or someone from a country where this sum of money would be worth significantly more?

[CainDinglesLeatherJacket]

@SemiNormal if it's $300 per computer then I imagine that could end up being a very large amount of money depending on the size of infection

[SemiNormal]

if it's $300 per computer then I imagine that could end up being a very large amount of money depending on the size of infection - Ahh yes, I read the sum and just thought that was overall what they wanted - didn't think it was per computer!!

Have just read a little of what is going on in Spain too - sounds related and that it may be that NHS wasn't specifically targetted?

Really hoping that no one dies as a result of this.

[SemiNormal]

twitter.com/BBCBreaking/status/863050901212278784

Apparently 16 hospital affected so far. I hate hackers at the best of times but this is just evil.

[CainDinglesLeatherJacket]

@SemiNormal Sky news saying the companies in Spain have received the exact same ransomware as the NHS hospitals here, but if these are all deliberate attacks it's strange that so many different companies, trusts and hospitals have been targeted rather than just all hospitals or all companies.

[MrsMulder]

It's reached the north west as well. A&E's having to turn patients away. Hope it gets resolved quickly. What absolute scum to endanger people like this

[StealthPolarBear]

Really hope they catch this person. Scary to think of what they're having to rely on in tbe meantime. Hope no one suffers because if this.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I don't think that certain hospitals will have been selectively targeted, rather, some seem to have been more vulnerable for whatever reason.

[Blondie79]

GP surgeries also affected. Pretty much whole of Lancashire NHS down.

[ExplodedCloud]

They will probably be able to encrypt the data or files. They release the key to unencrypt it on payment.

[StealthPolarBear]

Bloody hell have you seen that virus screen

[StealthPolarBear]

I thibk this will be huge

[StealthPolarBear]

In Europe as well apparently

[MillieMoodle]

One bitcoin is currently worth £1,355.30. So 300 of them is £409,590.

[MillieMoodle]

Sorry £1,365.30.