Cyber Attack

[mikey4444]

I am always extremely careful when opening any emails with attachments.

But wouldn't my anti-virus protection not prevent most attacks ?

[douglas9401]

Not in the case of a double negative, Mikey. :)

[fender62]

depends on what anti virus you have installed, i use eset smart security that also has banking security.

[bhg481]

You have to remember that ALL virus-protection programs can only protect against known viruses; they do this by having "honey pot" computers which are unprotected, so catch any new virus which comes along. A "vaccine" can then be written and distributed to users of that protection software; in the meantime all computers are vulnerable. You just have to hope that the honey-pot catches the virus and the protection is distributed before it gets to your computer.
New viruses are being created all the time, hence the regular updates from AVG, AVAST etc.

[mikey4444]

Thanks bhg.

And a special thanks to Dougie.....I am not sure what I would without my own personal AB Grammar Auntie watching over me.

(! )

[Old_Geezer]

Is it not a triple negative as it is anti-virus protection, not virus protection ? ;-)

[Khandro]

I use only Windows Defender in W10 and a Windows spokesperson has said today that I am protected against this ransomware virus and many others.

Incredibly, some of the hospitals attacked were still running on XP which hasn't been supported for about a couple of years.

[Old_Geezer]

They need to sack their IT department.

[TTG]

The IT department probably tried to explain to the "bean counters" what could happen if they did not update their computers but failed. I've tried to explain to non-technical people about technical problems and it's a skill to get the information across, trust me.

[EDDIE51]

mikey , as I said on another thread on the subject, the NHS are particularly vulnerable because they are still mainly using Windows XP. Which is outdated and is not updated and cannot have the latest antivirus technology.

[Davemano]

That is not correct Eddie and any reports on this subject are purely supposition.

[Khandro]

Dave; "British media had reported last year that most public health organizations were using an outdated version of Microsoft Windows that was not equipped with security updates."
The Times of Israel

Incidentally, Israel appears not to have suffered, I think they are too smart for that.

[EDDIE51]

Davemano , from the BBC news item on the attack
A security update - or patch - was released by Microsoft in March to protect against the virus, but it appears many NHS organisations had not applied it or were using an older version of the operating system no longer supported - namely Windows XP.
Here is a link to the article
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39911385

[Old_Geezer]

I understand that no one is an expert in everything, and management / accounts will be aware every area is saying that their empire is most vital and needs the resources more than the others; but it was the IT's responsibility to make their case clear as crystal. Maybe next time ?

[Davemano]

Eddie - you say the NHS are MAINLY using Windows XP when in fact only about one in twenty still are. I do not use links.

[Togo]

@16:25 Khandro. Same here, I have been banging on about it for months, sometimes to howls of derision from the xp &7 luddites. I have again this weekend forced Defender upgrades from Microsoft on my lappie and desktop. If I know, why do the techie boys who are being paid handsomely not know. Microsoft alerted all users in March, particularly the NHS here, to download the patch to thwart such an attack. Sack the idle ineffective wasters of NHS funds.

[Togo]

Mikey, to go back to your original question. Yes they will. As long as the anti virus protection is aware of the threat contained in the email or open source link. Some of these new threats are only recently written(in computer code) and it takes a bit of time to analyse them and counter programme for them by the tech wonks. We are the meat in the sandwich of clever bad guys and clever good guys(we hope) and can only be switched on to such threats by being as tech savvy as we can. Do your scans and upgrades instead of being eager to get going on the keyboard. Upgrade your systems like you do your car and other equipment instead of thinking it is OK now so I am safe. We don't treat cars like that. If your PC is important to you, then treat it as such by helping it to cope with a new age that is changing daily.

[Togo]

Another thing to consider. Some computers may well have managed to fend off the malware virus. But no one can yet tell us that any peripheries(cameras, printers, phones, sat navs, etc) are not infected. So you could clear it on the PC and plug in an infected application tool that is enabled to host an upgraded virus. Sleep well. hHaha.

[DTCwordfan]

togo, you meanie, in giving mikey worse nightmares than a Tory or LibDump taking Swansea.

[Togo]

Cmonn DT wasn't as bad as that surely. :))