After the ransomware attack left several NHS services without access to patient data, as well as striking other computers across the globe, Microsoft decided to take the necessary actions in patching up those vulnerabilities. With most of the systems running the outdated Windows XP platform, it should be observed that there is a dire need of upgrading, and the software giant has also stated that this recent event should come as a wake-up call for the world governments.
Microsoft Blames Governments for Storing Data on Software Vulnerabilities – Latest Virus Appears to Be Stolen From U.S. Intelligence
Microsoft did not take long to lash out at the government, but before doing so, it decided to provide a brief little summary of what exactly transpired with the ransomware attack and how it decided to plug the problem for a short while.
“Starting first in the United Kingdom and Spain, the malicious “WannaCrypt” software quickly spread globally, blocking customers from their data unless they paid a ransom using Bitcoin. The WannaCrypt exploits used in the attack were drawn from the exploits stolen from the National Security Agency, or NSA, in the United States.
That theft was publicly reported earlier this year. A month prior, on March 14, Microsoft had released a security update to patch this vulnerability and protect our customers. While this protected newer Windows systems and computers that had enabled Windows Update to apply this latest update, many computers remained unpatched globally. As a result, hospitals, businesses, governments, and computers at homes were affected.”
Unfortunately, the software company states that this is not going to be the end of these attacks and they are expected to pack quite a punch next time a global cyberattack takes places. In light of recent events, Microsoft states that this ransomware attack should be taken as a wake-up call, all the while criticizing the world governments for failing to provide information on these vulnerabilities.
“The governments of the world should treat this attack as a wake-up call. They need to take a different approach and adhere in cyberspace to the same rules applied to weapons in the physical world. We need governments to consider the damage to civilians that comes from hoarding these vulnerabilities and the use of these exploits. This is one reason we called in February for a new “Digital Geneva Convention” to govern these issues, including a new requirement for governments to report vulnerabilities to vendors, rather than stockpile, sell, or exploit them.”
Microsoft was also keen to point out that the attack took place because organizations failed to keep their systems up-to-date from a security point-of-view, which eventually led the virus to spread exponentially.
The company is now calling upon the tech segments, customers, and governments to work together to ensure that they are prepared for future cyberattacks.
