North Korea Publicly Named By U.S. As WannaCry Attack Source

Many of you would remember the WannaCry ransomware attack that spread panic across the globe earlier this year. The cyberattack disrupted countless businesses across the globe as it locked people out of their computers and demanded a ransom in return for unlocking their PCs. Previous reports have suggested that the intelligence community was convinced that North Korea was behind this attack. The United States Government has now formally named North Korea as the perpetrator of this attack.

Homeland Security Advisor Thomas P. Bossert wrote an article recently and mentioned for the first time that the North Koreans are directly to be blamed for the crisis.

Many businesses were affected by the hack. Even the National Health Service of the United Kingdom was crippled due to this cyberattack. Countless computers in hospitals, businesses, schools, and homes were rendered useless by WannaCry.

“While victims received ransom demands, paying did not unlock their computers. It was cowardly, costly and careless. The attack was widespread and cost billions, and North Korea is directly responsible,” he wrote.

North Korea’s involvement was suspected after the attack when researchers found out that WannaCry used an exploit that was stolen from the NSA. Comparisons were also drawn with the crippling cyberattack that Sony suffered back in 2014.

Microsoft and the government of the United Kingdom have recently blamed North Korea for the WannaCry cyberattack as well. Now, the United States has come out with a similar statement.

Adnan Farooqui
Categories: Computers
Tags: WannaCry