Ransomware on the rise
On May 12th, WannaCry hit networks around the world, locked up computers and held them ransom. WannaCry hit fast and spread quickly around the world including government entities. Health organizations, utilities, small and large businesses were all hit; no was was immuned.
WannaCry exploits a vulnerability initially discovered by the U.S. National Security Agency called EternalBlue. This encrypts data stored and the computer and then demands hundreds of dollars for the decryption key. WannaCry also uses a timer that when it runs out, data is lost for ever. WannaCry also has the ability to spread quickly to other computers which allowed it to be quickly identified.
How do you protect ourselves from this type of threat? Keep your computers up to date with the latest security patches and update legacy OS's like Windows XP. Also employ an endpoint management solution that will help prevent intrusions into your network. There are plenty of products on the market that will help you with this, but selecting the right one that fits your specific needs aren't easy so you need to do your homework.