WTF? Thousands of Computers Beseiged in UK Hospitals.

[JimC]

If the whole world were Apple, what a paradise it would be...

[Brian Peacock]

I think 'monopoly' is the word you're looking for there.

[Hermit]

I think 'monopoly' is the word you're looking for there.

...which is an abbreviation of 'highway robbery'.

[JimC]

Anything is justified to rid the world of the evil that is Windows...

[Hermit]

Anything is justified to rid the world of the evil that is Windows...

There goes your pretence of being a moderate.

[Brian Peacock]

[Svartalf]

Anything is justified to rid the world of the evil that is Windows...

What evil, I've been a windowsman ever since I sstarted on computers, and I've been quite satisfied with it, in spite of the obvious downsides... apple is expensive, and linux demands much more computer savvy than I own.

[Alan B]

I remember Windows 1 and when Windows 2 came along, wow! This will really kill off DOS. And all on floppy disks...

[Scot Dutchy]

I remember Windows 1 and when Windows 2 came along, wow! This will really kill off DOS. And all on floppy disks...

Windows 1.0 came free with DOS 6.0 did it not. DOS 6.0 was 20 something floppies (1.2MB). Just threw them all out last year. A cupboard full.

[Alan B]

Deccan Chronical

Indian-origin Google techie links ransomware attack to N Korea

An Indian-origin security researcher with Google has found evidence suggesting that North Korean hackers may have carried out the "unprecedented" ransomware cyberattack that hit over 150 countries, including India.

Neel Mehta has published a code which a Russian security firm has termed as the "most significant clue to date", BBC reported today. The code, published on Twitter, is exclusive to North Korean hackers, researchers said.

Researchers have said that some of the code used in Friday's ransomware, known as WannaCry software, was nearly identical to the code used by the Lazarus Group, a group of North Korean hackers who used a similar version for the devastating hack of Sony Pictures Entertainment in 2014 and the last year's hack of Bangladesh Central Bank.

Security experts are now cautiously linking the Lazarus Group to this latest attack after the discovery by Mehta. Mehta has found similarities between code found within WannaCry and other tools believed to have been created by the Lazarus Group in the past, BBC reported.

Security expert Prof Alan Woodward said that time stamps within the original WannaCry code are set to UTC +9 - China's time zone - and the text demanding the ransom uses what reads like machine-translated English, but a Chinese segment apparently written by a native speaker, the report said.

"As you can see it is pretty thin and all circumstantial. However, it is worth further investigation," Woodward said.

Well, I suppose someone had to point the finger...

Wouldn't put it past them, though.

[Alan B]

Reuters

Cyber attack could spark lawsuits but not against Microsoft

Businesses that failed to update Microsoft Windows-based computer systems that were hit by a massive cyber attack over the weekend could be sued over their lax cyber security, but Microsoft Corp itself enjoys strong protection from lawsuits, legal experts said.

The WannaCry worm has affected more than 200,000 Windows computers around the world since Friday, disrupting car factories, global shipper FedEx Corp and Britain's National Health Service, among others. The hacking tool spreads silently between computers, shutting them down by encrypting data and then demanding a ransom of $300 to unlock them.

According to Microsoft (MSFT.O), computers affected by the so-called "ransomware" did not have security patches for various Windows versions installed or were running Windows XP, which the company no longer supports.

"Using outdated versions of Windows that are no longer supported raises a lot of questions," said Christopher Dore, a lawyer specializing in digital privacy law at Edelson PC. "It would arguably be knowingly negligent to let those systems stay in place.”

Businesses could face legal claims if they failed to deliver services because of the attack, said Edward McAndrew, a data privacy lawyer at Ballard Spahr. "There is this stream of liability that flows from the ransomware attack," he said. "That's liability to individuals, consumers and patients."

Yeah. Let's see Jeremy Cunt hauled through the courts!

Maybe a Class Action?

[Scot Dutchy]

Some companies are very loathed to update using the old adage; if it works dont touch it. Which I would in some way agree with but being warned is quite different. I am glad to see that this country was hardly touched (only a few parking garages).

Why an organisation like the NHS did not keep itself up to date is beyond me. Also why does it use a Windows platform? Especially one like XP which was not a good Windows version.

[Alan B]

Even Win 2000 was better than XP...

And as for Vista...

I went straight to Win 7 after XP and stayed there. I think they are supporting it to 2020? Not touching 10 yet.

[Alan B]

Yeah. "If it works don't touch it" is OK but with computer systems it is like running your car and not bothering to pump-up the tyres when someone tells you they're flat.

[Scot Dutchy]

Even Win 2000 was better than XP...

And as for Vista...

I went straight to Win 7 after XP and stayed there. I think they are supporting it to 2020? Not touching 10 yet.

I had the same attitude Alan but when buying a new machine I had no choice but I must say I have never experienced a more stable Windows platform.