A global ransomware attack was holding thousands of computers hostage on Friday May 12th . Hack hits telephone companies and hospitals, locking down computers while demanding a hefty sum to release the computers. Ransomware is malware that encrypts important files, essentially locking people out of their computers unless they pay up to prevent their entire system from being deleted. The malware had spread across 74 countries as of Friday.
Cybersecurity researchers showed that more than 70,000 cumputers have been affected by the ransomware. The ransomware is holding each computer hostage for $300 in Bitcoin (roughly £230 or AU$400). The malware demands that hospitals pay by May 15, or all the encrypted files will be deleted by May 19. Windows users should keep there computers updated to patch these vulnerabilities. Daily Safety Check is a proactive security software.