A ransomware attack has affected thousands of computers around the world this week from Ukraine to Australia but so far no reports from New Brunswick.
Hackers essentially hold computers hostage by making all data inaccessible until a ransom is paid.
Computer consultant Scott Beck with Moncton-based BeckTek says it’s virtually impossible to trace the origin of these kinds of attacks.
“Because the way they want to get paid is using Bitcoins which is an electronic currency online. It hides behind something called the onion network and it is virtually untraceable,” he notes.
Beck says last month’s major ransomware attack dubbed “Wanna Cry” mainly targeted older operating systems like Windows XP.
But he adds newer systems can be attacked too unless software updates are installed.