The federal government has confirmed three Australian businesses have been hit by a ransomware attack.
On Monday morning, Europol announced that the cyber attack had already hit 200,000 people in at least 150 countries.
Governments, computer experts brace for possible worsening of global cyberattack that has hit over 150 countries https://t.co/erdP7Y0Pxm pic.twitter.com/c8DuZaRMel
— AFP news agency (@AFP) May 15, 2017
Cyber Security Minister Dan Tehan, initially reported that just one Australian business had been impacted by the cyber attack.
However, Mr Tehan confirmed this morning that two other businesses had been targeted.
“We are obviously continuing our investigations but it does seem the figure has gone from one to three,” he told the ABC.
“At this stage, it does seem like that we have missed the major impact of this ransomware incident.”
Australia and New Zealand largely escape global #cyber attack https://t.co/DUcqzMCvxN
— Secure Cyber (@Sec_Cyber) May 15, 2017
The unprecedented ransomware attack has leaked into thousands of computer systems around the world, shutting users out unless they make payment.
Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Cyber Security, Alastair MacGibbon, said Australia’s critical infrastructure had not been hit by the attack.
Mr MacGibbon has warned the public to report any suspected hacking to the Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network, and to visit the Australian Cyber Security Centre for more information on how to protect themselves.
On Friday, Microsoft issued patches for the ransomware, ‘WannaCry’, to address the vulnerability of their software, after a flaw in Windows was found to provide entrance into the software for hackers.
Cyber security research experts warned against giving in to hackers in order to unlock data and files.
Professor Yang Xiang, Director for Centre for Cyber Security Research at Deakin University, said not to pay the hackers.
“If you keep paying ransom it’s actually helping attackers to grow the industry,” he told the ABC.
