New Ransomware Attach Infects Airlines, Banks and Utilities across the World

New Ransomware Attack Infects Airlines, Banks and Utilities across the World

Yesterday, PC users across the world were asking for help as ransomware took data hostage and locked users out of their computers.

  • Jun 28, 2017

A major ransomware attach brought business to a close throughout Europe just weeks after the major WannaCry Attack. The most severe damage is being reported by Ukraine, with compromised systems at the central bank, state telecom, municipal metro and airport. Systems were also reported infected at the country’s electricity supplier, although a spokesperson for the power supply company said they remained unaffected during the attack.

The virus spread internationally in a matter of hours. Danish shipping company Maersk reported systems down across multiple sites, including the company’s Russian logistics arm Damco. Also in Russia, the virus reached severs for oil company Rosneft, although it is unclear how much was damaged.

In addition to the infected computer systems overseas, several U.S. companies were affected by the ransomware, namely pharmaceutical company Merck, a Pittsburgh-area hospital and the U.S. officers of law firm DLA Piper.

Reports from a Kaspersky researcher identified the virus as a  variant of the Petya ransomware, although later remarked that the strain was completely new. After that, the ransomware became dubbed as “NotPetya.”

NotPetya works similarly to WannaCry, as it spreads quickly through Window’s SMB file-sharing system, taking the data hostage and asking users to pay a ransom to get it back.

Once infected, the virus encrypts each computer to a private key, rendering it unusable until the system is decrypted. The program then instructs the user to pay $300 to a static Bitcoin address, then email the bitcoin wallet and installation key to a Posteo email address. As of yesterday afternoon, blockchain records showed 20 transactions to the target wallet, totaling roughly $4,900. It’s unclear whether any systems have been successfully decrypted after payment.

Windows sent out a security patch following the WannaCry Attack, but many users remain vulnerable. It seems a string of malware variants have employed the exploit to deliver ransomware or mine cryptocurrency.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.