A massive, likely the largest ever, criminal cyberattack that launched yesterday has locked down countless computers shutting down business, university, hospital and governmental operations world-wide. Has anyone heard of any Detroit-based institutions being affected?

Searching for Detroit-affected news, I find none but this isn't something that the affected parties might want known. It could embarrass many with customers and likely they are quietly paying the ransom.

For those new to this, computers are hacked, or more often their users are tricked, and malicious software is loaded. During an attack, like yesterday's, ransomware is simultaneously activated, and encrypts [locks] all the files on the hacked computer. When the user attempts to use the files they are informed that they can only be unlocked by paying of ransom of $300 in bitcoin, a virtual currency that difficult to track.

According to the NY Times a British researcher inadvertently shut down the attack preventing its widespread proliferation in the US although this graphic clearly shows many hits.

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The hacking tools used were part of the suite stolen from the NSA, which goes to show, as throughout history, if you create a weapon sooner or later your enemy or the gangsters will get it.

The cyberattack was able to spread so quickly in part because of its high level of sophistication. The malware, experts said, was based on a method that the N.S.A. is believed to have developed as part of its arsenal of cyberweapons. Last summer, a group calling itself the “Shadow Brokers” posted online digital tools that it had stolen from the United States government’s stockpile of hacking weapons.
It also underlines the need for a global cyber-security arms treaty.

Do you have all your systems and software updated?