28 Jun 2017

New ransomware cyber attack hits computers

From Morning Report, 7:10 am on 28 June 2017

A major ransomware attack has struck large companies across Europe including Russia's biggest oil company, Ukraine's international airport and global shipping firm Maersk.

Keyboard, computer, cyber attack

Photo: 123rf

Firms in Ukraine, including the state power company and Kiev's main airport, were among the first to report issues.

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant has also had to monitor radiation levels manually after its Windows-based sensors were shut down.

Cyber security firms are scrambling to understand the scope and impact of the attacks, seeking to confirm suspicions hackers had leveraged the same type of NSA hacking tool exploited in the WannaCry attack in May.