Cybersecurity
Microsoft Faulted Over Ransomware While Shifting Blame to NSA
Security patches for some popular older versions of Windows were only available if companies paid
DarkMatter Says Proactive Steps Needed to Combat Attacks
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There’s a blame game brewing over who’s responsible for the massive cyberattack that infected hundreds of thousands of computers. Microsoft Corp. is pointing its finger at the U.S. government, while some experts say the software giant is accountable too.
The attack started Friday and has affected computers in more than 150 countries, including severe disruptions at Britain’s National Health Service. The hack used a technique purportedly stolen from the U.S. National Security Agency to target Microsoft’s market-leading Windows operating system. It effectively takes the computer hostage and demands a $300 ransom, to be paid in 72 hours with bitcoin.
QuickTake How Ransomware Works