New computer virus causes havoc

A powerful new computer virus was today causing havoc with e-mail systems across the world.
Experts described the virus, called Goner, as one of the fastest-spreading they had yet seen and warned computer users to immediately delete it if they received it.

Alex Shipp, spokesman for anti-virus service MessageLabs, said: "It's spreading with tremendous speed and thousands of users in Britain have already been sent it.

"The virus mass mails itself out through e-mail and attempts to destroy anti-virus software on computers, which could prove extremely problematic for those unfortunate enough to receive it."

The infected e-mail has the word "Hi" as its subject and body text which reads "When I saw this screen saver, I immediately thought about you. I am in a harry (sic), I promise you will love it." Its attachment is labelled "gone.scr."

It was first detected this morning in the US but experts believe it was created in Europe.

The US, the UK and France are the worst hit of the 17 countries affected so far.

Mr Shipp said: "We had a handful of reports this morning but at mid-afternoon in the UK it went mad. We have had about 30,000 reports and the figure is rising."

A criminal investigation has now been launched in an effort to track down the person responsible for the virus.

Previous viruses, such as Love Bug, Code Red and the Nimda Worm caused problems for millions of computer users across the world.

ransomwares creating chaos all around the world

ATMs in India remain shut due to Wannacry Ransomware attack? Open ATMs only after software update, suggests RBI
The advice comes mainly because more than 60% of the 2.25 lakh ATMs in India run on an outdated version of Windows XP.
By Aishwarya Krishnan |
ATMs in India remain shut due to Wannacry Ransomware attack? Open ATMs only after software update, suggests RBI
Wannacry ransomware has been creating a ruckus all over the world and has been termed as the world’s biggest ransomware attack. In an effort to avoid the bug from having a large-scale effect in India, the Reserve Bank of India has suggested that the ATMs in the country should remain shut till software updated against the bug. The Indian government has announced red alert against this ransomware and is asking people to take the necessary at their end, and banks have been asked to take the necessary steps to prevent the cyber attack from reaching India. WannaCry malware: What is Wanna Decryptor ransomware, how it works and how to protect against cyber attack.
The Indian government has been taking steps to reduce the effect of this bug in the Indian market and RBI has asked the banks to operate their ATM networks after getting the Windows update to be protected from the malware impacting systems. The government of India also held a webinar spreading awareness about Wannacry ransomware and educated people on how to protect their devices against the bug. MeitY reaches out to RBI, others against Wanna Cry ransomware.
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The ATM machines mostly run on a Windows software and are extremely vulnerable to the cyber attack. The advice comes mainly because more than 60% of the 2.25 lakh ATMs in India run on an out dated version of Windows XP. A special update to beat the bug is being released by Microsoft, and all bank ATMs are being asked to make the ATMs operational after getting the operation system update. However, ATM operators are assuring people that there is no issue in using ATMs are there is no data stored in the machine.
WannaCry ransomware program is targeting Microsoft’s Windows operating system which takes control of the computer by hacking into the systems. The hackers who take control of the devices ask users to make payments to get the access back. The payments are made in the form of bitcoins and range from Rs. 19,000 and Rs. 38,000. The targets of this attack include British NHS, International shipper FedEx, Telefonica and others.