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French team finds way to unlock computers infected with WannaCry virus as ransom deadline looms
www.telegraph.co.uk ^ | 19 May 2017 • 5:46pm | Staff

Posted on 05/19/2017 2:12:39 PM PDT by Red Badger

French researchers have found a way to save Windows files encrypted by the WannaCry virus, racing against a deadline as the ransomware threatens to start locking up victims' computers first infected a week ago.

WannaCry, which started to sweep round the globe last Friday and has infected more than 300,000 computers in 150 nations, threatens to lock out victims who have not paid a sum of $300 to $600 (£230 to £460) within one week of infection.

A loose-knit team of security researchers scattered across the globe have revealed they have collaborated to develop a workaround to unlock the encryption key for files hit in the global attack, which several independent security researchers have confirmed.

But the researchers said their solution would only work in certain conditions, namely if computers had not been rebooted since becoming infected and if victims applied the fix before WannaCry carried out its threat to lock their files permanently.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Technical
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 05/19/2017 2:12:39 PM PDT by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

2 posted on 05/19/2017 2:14:32 PM PDT by Vendome (I've Gotta Be Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH-pk2vZG2M)
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To: Red Badger

Highly effective windows “back-doors” and worms, collected and developed by the NSA and US Government, somehow stolen/released to hackers who are now using them for mayhem.

Any investigations going on how THAT happened??

Nope, didn’t think so.


3 posted on 05/19/2017 2:14:45 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: Vendome

4 posted on 05/19/2017 2:23:12 PM PDT by Vendome (I've Gotta Be Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH-pk2vZG2M)
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To: Red Badger

5 posted on 05/19/2017 2:24:35 PM PDT by Snickering Hound
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To: Red Badger

This is way cool.
If your computer gets locked up due to this ransomware,
you can just download this software and repair it ...
Oh.
Wait.
Never mind.


6 posted on 05/19/2017 2:26:57 PM PDT by Repeal The 17th (I was conceived in liberty, how about you?)
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To: Repeal The 17th

It appears there solution gives you a couple minutes to react; not much help.


7 posted on 05/19/2017 2:32:04 PM PDT by Ingtar (.)
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To: Ingtar

With a white flag?


8 posted on 05/19/2017 2:36:33 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear
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To: PGR88

I got hit with a malware virus once. I rebooted the computer and it was gone.


9 posted on 05/19/2017 2:43:20 PM PDT by jmacusa (Dad may be in charge but mom knows whats going on.)
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To: Repeal The 17th

Trend Micro 11.1 says it has protection from Wanna Cry. Earlier versions need an update available from their website.
Free to paid versions. If you own it, you’ve been notified.


10 posted on 05/19/2017 3:26:48 PM PDT by reformedliberal
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11 posted on 05/19/2017 3:28:20 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Happy days are here again!)
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To: Red Badger

If you are updated to Windows 10 and use Microsoft Defender, they did the update and patch in March.

Defender is the best. HP techs get all the computer security they want for free from any vendor. The HP techs all use Defender, none better.

The reason this malware exploited so many computers, particularly foreign computers is that nearly all of them are using a bootleg copy of Windows that they don’t register and then don’t get free security updates.

The something for nothing crowd.... OK, what did your piracy do for you now?

I have no sympathy, anyone that got infected largely deserved it because they are not keeping up to date, are stealing software, or are too cheap to buy an automatically updated security software.


12 posted on 05/19/2017 3:45:42 PM PDT by gandalftb
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To: gandalftb

I wonder if UNIX/LINUX based computers are vulnerable?...................


13 posted on 05/22/2017 6:08:32 AM PDT by Red Badger (Profanity is the sound of an ignorant mind trying to express itself.............)
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To: Red Badger

Linux wasn’t affected. They don’t get a lot of bugs, not enough users to make any money exploiting.

Try running Windows in a virtual machine with Virtualbox. That way the VM gets a bug, your data is unaffected.

For me, Windows 10, fully licensed and back up your data, you will be safe.

Linux is not supported by Microsoft, they hate it because it is so powerful, and there are very few apps.


14 posted on 05/22/2017 9:10:27 AM PDT by gandalftb
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