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Danny Lee

Beijing has warned computer users across the country to guard against a massive cyberattack spreading around the globe, but the damage from the “Petya” ­ransomware virus in Asia ­appeared to be limited on Wednesday.
It has hit Ukraine’s central bank, Russian oil giant Rosneft and British advertising firm WPP, among others, demanding US$300 (HK$2,340) in bitcoin as ransom payment.
Petya has characteristics similar to the faster and more disruptive Wannacry virus that infected 300,000 computers last month.
Cyber attack hits Asia: chocolate factory and container port operators among victims
While China has yet to be hit by Petya, the nation’s internet ­regulator and Beijing authorities jointly issued a notice warning citizens and institutions to stay alert, take preventive measures and fix network loopholes.
Hong Kong’s Computer Security Incident Coordination Centre said it had not received any reports of local victims by last night. “Drawing from experience of WannaCry recently, the government is much better prepared this time,” innovation and technology minister Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung said, citing efforts to educate people on cyberattacks.


“Though the overall risk of Hong Kong users succumbing to the attack may not be as high as WannaCry attack last time, we will stay vigilant and guard against any ransomware attack.”
A source said Hong Kong staff at Ogilvy, a major public relations firm under WPP, were asked to work from home as a precautionary measure.
The overall risk of Hong Kong users succumbing to the attack may not be as high as WannaCry attack last time
Nicholas Yang, technology minister
The city’s cybersecurity watchdog reissued its advice that Windows computer users, if they had not followed protection advice after the previous Wannacry attack, should install the latest Windows security patch for computers, install robust anti-virus protection, avoid opening suspicious or unfamiliar weblinks or email attachments, and have offline data backup protection.
International security researchers yesterday were said to have figured out a “vaccine” to stop the attack. There was also speculation that the perpetrators could be making a political statement or planning a bigger attack.
“How come the US and Europe had trouble and this area of the world was quiet?” asked Wilson Wong Ka-wai, IT general manager of the Productivity Council. “This attack, we believe, the hacker had some specific country targets and was not focused on Asia.”
Tony Lee Ho-yin, head of consulting at Trend Micro, which protects 1,200 large enterprises locally, said risks to users still existed even if a particular security loophole was fixed after the Wannacry attack last month.
“With one month’s preparation to update the security infrastructure, most people are searching for information about how to block the virus and why they should block it, but no one is asking for help to decrypt an infected machine, so that is a good thing for Hong Kong,” Lee said.


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Cybersecurity

Beijing warns computer users across country over massive ‘Petya’ cyberattack

China’s internet regulator and Beijing authorities jointly issued a notice urging citizens and institutions to take preventive measures and fix network loopholes.Photo: EPA

Cyber attack hits Asia: chocolate factory and container port operators among victims

A new cyberattack similar to WannaCry has reached Asia after spreading from Europe to the US overnight, hitting businesses, port operators and government systems. File photo: AFP

This photo taken on June 27, 2017 in Kiev shows a view of banking machine of Privat Bank reading "Sorry for technical reasons, cash is not possible". Wave of cyberattacks that began in Russia and Ukraine on June 27 was wreaking havoc on government and corporate computer systems as it spread to Western Europe and across the Atlantic. Ukraine's central bank said a cyberattack hit several lenders in the country, hindering operations and leading the regulator to warn other financial institutions to tighten security measures. / AFP PHOTO / SERGEI SUPINSKY

Chernobyl nuclear site hit by powerful ransomware cyber attack sweeping globe

A dosimeter shows the radiation level near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, in a file photo taken last year. Automatic monitoring systems at the disaster site were taken offline by a cyber attack that forced staff to check radiation levels with hand-held meters on Tuesday. Photo: EPA

A message demanding money is seen on a monitor of a payment terminal at a branch of Ukraine's state-owned bank Oschadbank after Ukrainian institutions were hit by a wave of cyber attacks earlier in the day, in Kiev, Ukraine, June 27, 2017. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

epa06052853 A pair of glasses is held in front of a computer screen displaying the website of WPP advertising and marketing services that is currently unavailable, pictured in Frankfurt Main, Germany, 27 June 2017. According to news reports, companies around the world on 27 June 2017 are reporting they are being hit by a major cyber-attack. EPA/MAURITZ ANTIN

epa06052725 (FILE) The logo of the 'Rosneft' petroleum company on the wall of its headquarters in Moscow, Russia, 17 July 2014 (reissued 27 June 2017). According to media reports on 27 June 2017, Rosneft was affected by a large-scale cyber attack on 27 June 2017. EPA/YURI KOCHETKOV

FILE PHOTO: An arrival area is seen in Boryspil airport outside Kiev, Ukraine, March 21, 2012. Borispol will be Ukraine's main air hub during the Euro 2012 football championship. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich/File Photo

FILE PHOTO: Dispatchers are seen inside the control room of Ukraine's National power company Ukrenergo in Kiev, Ukraine, October 13, 2016. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo

epa06052856 A pair of glasses is held in front of a computer screen displaying the website of Norwegian shipping company Maersk that is currently unavailable due to a cyber attack, pictured in Frankfurt Main, Germany, 27 June 2017. According to news reports, companies around the world on 27 June 2017 are reporting they are being hit by a major cyber-attack. EPA/MAURITZ ANTIN

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Ukraine central bank, Russian oil giant hit by ransomware, but harm in Asia appears limited
