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[webfact]

Cyberattack spurs concern for critical infrastructure
By THE NATION

 

A programer shows a sample of a ransomware cyberattack on a laptop in Taipei, Taiwan. // EPA PHOTO

 

BANGKOK: -- Windows users told to update software to defend against massive worldwide assault as firms in 150 countries hit by ransomware.

 

A THAI cybersecurity expert has urged all Window-based computer users to update their software to defend against the latest global cyberattack, which has already hit more than 200,000 victims in at least 150 countries.

 

Prinya Homanek, president and founder of ACIS Professional Centre and Cybertron, said Friday’s cyberattack should serve as a wake-up call, but added that people did not need to panic.

 

Prinya also cited Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s response to the attack, saying the country should step up its preparedness to cope with cybersecurity challenges.

 

“We should be vigilant and well-|disciplined in protecting the country’s critical infrastructure such as ATMs, airports, hospitals, telecoms, mass |transit, etc, from cyberattacks.”

 

“The first version of WannaCry ransomware may be temporarily stopped [as reported in the US on the weekend] but there will likely be newer versions to wreak havoc,” he said.

 

Citing Europol executive director Rob Wainwright, AFP reported that the cyberattack had affected more than 150 countries.

 

“We’ve never seen anything like this,” Wainwright told Britain’s ITV News. “The latest count is over 200,000 victims in at least 150 countries. Many of those victims will be businesses, including large corporations.”

 

Meanwhile, Prayut is slated to chair the national cybersecurity committee, which will be set up under a proposed cybersecurity law being considered by the National Reform Steering Assembly. Previously, the Digital Economy and Society minister was the chairman of the national cybersecurity body.

 

The proposed change is in response to growing cybersecurity threats, which require the committee to be directly supervised by the prime minister, especially during critical challenges that affect the national economy and security, officials have said. 

 

The panel will also be empowered to order public and private sector entities to take necessary measures to respond to cyber threats. If private organisations do not follow orders, the committee will ask the courts to issue rulings.

 

Given the worldwide digitalisation of economic, social and other activities, it was inevitable that cybersecurity |threats would rise, experts said. 

 

Prinya said the ransomware attack represented a major crisis that should be turned into an opportunity for Thailand and other countries to pay more attention to cyber threats since state agencies, hospitals, banks and other users of computers with Windows software were all vulnerable if their software was not up to date.

 

People using Windows 10 were safe, while earlier Window versions needed to be updated as suggested by Microsoft or they could potentially be vulnerable to ransomware.

 

Prinya said ransomware threats were similar to time bombs ready to wreak havoc if no preventive action was taken so the public and private sectors should not be complacent given the latest global attack, which has mainly hit countries in the West so far.

 

Thailand’s critical infrastructure was vulnerable, Prinya said, adding that while the risk was low, the impact would be high and widespread if critical infrastructure is hit.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30315199

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-05-15

[ukrules]

Have any Thai companies been affected by this ?

 

The risk is not low, it's never been higher. It's expected that Monday morning loads of people will go into work and log onto their networks with their laptops. There's going to be mayhem as the laptops spread malware across internal networks.

 

There are multiple new versions of this malware working their way from network to network right now.

[rkidlad]

16 minutes ago, ukrules said:

Have any Thai companies been affected by this ?

 

The risk is not low, it's never been higher. It's expected that Monday morning loads of people will go into work and log onto their networks with their laptops. There's going to be mayhem as the laptops spread malware across internal networks.

 

There are multiple new versions of this malware working their way from network to network right now.

I use Mac at home and windows at work. I will be going to work to turn on my windows this morning. Will have to wait and see. My copy of windows is a copy as this is Thailand and my boss can get away with that. Wonder if I'll be affected. 

 

 

[Dobredin Ghusputin]

Meanwhile in Bangkok

 

[ukrules]

10 minutes ago, Dobredin Ghusputin said:

Meanwhile in Bangkok

 

Any idea if that's real or just a photoshop joke ?

[Wilsonandson]

It was posted on twitter yesterday.
@PoliceEnginerr
Translation says it's an advertising board on radio road in central Bangkok. So is that wireless street? Also is another photo of a ransomware virus infection on a Royal Thai Police computer. No details where.

[dcnx]

As long as they don't publish my browser history, it's all good. ;-)

[chrisinth]

58 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

I use Mac at home and windows at work. I will be going to work to turn on my windows this morning. Will have to wait and see. My copy of windows is a copy as this is Thailand and my boss can get away with that. Wonder if I'll be affected. 

 

 

 

That is almost TMI in that statement.

 

I know of 4 companies that have had 1 million+ baht fines, mostly because they had attitudes like the one you just stated.

 

Stay safe out there guys...................

[dcnx]

7 minutes ago, Wilsonandson said:

It was posted on twitter yesterday.
@PoliceEnginerr
Translation says it's an advertising board on radio road in central Bangkok. So is that wireless street? Also is another photo of a ransomware virus infection on a Royal Thai Police computer. No details where.

Oops.

 

 

[Emster23]

I have legal copy of Windows, so do keep updated. Did Microsoft make it so that pirate copies can't get those "critical updates"?

[chrisinth]

1 hour ago, Emster23 said:

I have legal copy of Windows, so do keep updated. Did Microsoft make it so that pirate copies can't get those "critical updates"?

No, you will continue to get critical security updates. But optional and other updates will not be available to you.

 

If the operating system is downloaded from a legitimate source, ie, Microsoft, then it is a 'copy'. If the operating system is downloaded and has in anyway been modified/added to/pre-activated, then you would need to be careful and that could be classed as a 'pirate copy'.

 

But even then, if the operating systems haven't been activated inside the allotted time-frame, and you are seeing the 'Windows is not Genuine' message on your black desktop, you will still receive Critical updates.

[elgordo38]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Prinya also cited Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s response to the attack, saying the country should step up its preparedness to cope with cybersecurity challenges.

Yes Prime Minister this should be done providing it does not require money from government coffers. 

[elgordo38]

I think the system was ripe for this as so many computers were older models running old software and the word maintenance was lacking like here. They were caught flat footed. 

Edited May 15, 2017 by elgordo38

[elgordo38]

6 hours ago, ukrules said:

Have any Thai companies been affected by this ?

 

The risk is not low, it's never been higher. It's expected that Monday morning loads of people will go into work and log onto their networks with their laptops. There's going to be mayhem as the laptops spread malware across internal networks.

 

There are multiple new versions of this malware working their way from network to network right now.

Have any Thai companies been affected by this ? If they were it will not be publicized. Never happen in the Hub of perfectness. 

[OJAS]

5 minutes ago, elgordo38 said:

Have any Thai companies been affected by this ? If they were it will not be publicized. Never happen in the Hub of perfectness. 

Not just private companies, of course - the Immigration Bureau's extranet for online 90-day reporting, which operates on antiquated Internet Explorer technology, being a classic case in point in the public sector. I was under the impression that the reason why this extranet had been taken down for a couple of months recently (to the inconvenience of many, as well documented elsewhere) was in anticipation of just such a cyberattack - which, surprise, surprise, materialised just a couple of weeks after it had been brought back online in the same form as before! Some accident of timing, maybe??