Mumbai: The globally active ransomware virus has partially affected computer systems in some institutions in the State, including its police department, a senior police officer said on Sunday. The extent and details of the attack will be known when the institutions open on Monday, he added.
A cyber ransomware is a malicious software that blocks access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid online. As per reports, ransomware has affected 200,000 victims in over 150 countries. “The Maharashtra police department is partially affected due to ransomware, and cyber experts are working to fix the systems in time. Only a small section of the computer-based data system, and not the entire system, of the State police department is affected. We have separated those PCs from the system and we are trying to fix it,” a senior police officer said.
A few other institutions which have not upgraded their Windows operating systems to the latest version have also been affected, but the officer declined to name them “to avoid panic”.
“We have issued an advisory and provided a link to Windows patches released recently. The advisory can help people backup their data and check their system’s security,” State Cyber Cell chief Brijesh Singh said. “The patches are for those who haven’t upgraded their system,” he said.
Mr. Singh added, “Ideally, we have instructed people to not pay the ransom. It’s true that the hackers are mostly after money and trust is crucial here. Once they are paid, the systems have been made accessible to its users. Most reported cases of ransom paid are abroad.”
