Department of Homeland Security Bans Windows Computers Due to Security Threat - Science

The huge cyberattack wiped out display screens at rail stations in Germany


Cyber security experts rushed to restore systems on Saturday after an unprecedented global wave of cyberattacks that struck targets ranging from Russia's banks to British hospitals and a French carmaker's factories.

The hunt was on for the culprits behind the assault, which was being described as the biggest cyber ransom attack ever.

State agencies and major companies around the world were left reeling by the attacks which blocked access to files and demanded ransom money, forcing them to shut down their computer systems.

"The recent attack is at an unprecedented level and will require a complex international investigation to identify the culprits," said Europol, Europe's policing agency.

Note:  in the English that means they need time to blame it on the Russians.

Phys.org:  Unprecedented cyberattacks wreak global havoc


The problem is rather more obvious than Russians.

Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer at the Helsinki-based cyber security company F-Secure, told AFP that the attack was "the biggest ransomware outbreak in history", saying that 130,000 systems in more than 100 countries had been affected.

He said that Russia and India were hit particularly hard, in large part because the older Windows XP operating software is still widely used in the countries.

The attacks apparently exploited a flaw exposed in documents leaked from the US National Security Agency (NSA).

The attacks hit a whole range of organisations and businesses worldwide.

- PO

Let's have another round of applause for Microsoft whose systems have resulted in more security breakdowns than every other computer in history aggregated.  Let's have another round of applause for the NSA helping it all happen.

Windows systems clearly represent a clear and present danger to the security of all the world and the NSA is just cancer.


Ed:  there was nothing in the article about DHS banning them!

Well, don't you think they bloody should before this happens again, mate?