Information technology experts warned about the possibility of Wanna Decryptor (WannaCry) virus hitting UAE, after it has penetrated more than 200,000 people in 150 other countries.
There hasn’t been any reports in the UAE as yet, but “today and over this week people will begin to report the attacks,” said Amir Kolahzadeh, chief executive and founder of internet security company IT Sec, in a report from The National.
“We haven’t seen it yet because people are just coming into work at the beginning of the week, but the country isn’t insulated from these attacks,” he added.
WannaCry virus encrypts users’ files on infected computers and demands a fee to decipher the withheld file. The virus also demands time to users, warns to double to fee within three hours and to delete the file within six hours.
“To the unsuspecting user it’s just a file or an event that happens all of a sudden. Next thing you know you’re another victim,” Kolahzadeh said, adding that the virus can present in many ways, even in android apps.
Experts also advised people to avoid opening any computer files in the next few days if not necessary, as the virus spreads fast to infected devices.
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