How vulnerable are you?

The recent ransomware cyberattacks making headlines around the globe in the past few days are nothing new and could impact anyone, according to a number of local sources.

Professor David Zeichick, of the Chico State Department of Computer Science, said the recent “WannaCry” cyberattacks impacting businesses worldwide are notable because of their size and scope, but the issue has been evolving for years.

“This is really just a warning,” Zeichick said.

“These attackers are looking to make money. These particular attacks are targeting businesses, but it will probably move to consumers, their phones, smart devices or anything with embedded software.”

Professor Phillip Rogaway of the UC Davis Computer Science Department, who specializes in cryptology, also said ransom attacks are nothing new.

The process of hackers encrypting computer files of businesses or personal computers and then asking for a payment is not uncommon, Rogaway said.

The hackers usually demand the payment of Bitcoins, which is an anonymous form of digital currency, to restore the encrypted data.

Anthony Molina, of Molinas Computer Works in Yuba City, said he knows of a few businesses and people in town who were targeted by hackers and on a few occasions, paid the ransom.

Molina recommends customers not pay the ransom, as there is no guarantee the encrypted data will be restored. Molina instead advises customers to wipe their computer or device clean to the original factory setting.

A computer or device restored to its factory setting will have all of the users’ saved data erased. Molina said if all you are losing is some pictures or documents, then you have to take your losses.

Zeichick said the issue many businesses encounter, including a number of hospitals in the United Kingdom in the latest “WannaCry” attacks, is they are reliant on programs specific to certain software.

Zeichick said there is a lot of finger pointing about whether it is a company like Microsoft, the businesses program devel- oper or the business itself is to blame for a hack.

Ryan Eldridge, cofounder of Nerds on Call, a computer repair company in Yuba City, said businesses are particularly susceptible to ransom cyberattacks.

“It’s a huge investment to change over software,” Eldridge said. “Businesses are particularly at risk because they are running software that cannot be updated or patched regularly.”

The elderly are also highly susceptible and become the focus of many ransom-style attacks, Eldridge said.

Two factors play a role in this: Older people are typically less proficient with new technology; and their reliance on older software.

Eldridge said additional scams will accompany the “WannaCry” attacks in the form of scam phone calls.

The calls will be similar to the IRS phone scams asking for payment of delinquent or unpaid taxes, Eldridge said. Scammers will pose as either an employee of Microsoft or some fake IT company and ask for payment to protect against the “WannaCry” or similar viruses.

“The next wave is going to be worse,” Eldridge said. “These scams target a lot of older people and are kind of a one-two punch to consumers. Ultimately, if someone is asking you for money over the phone, something is not right.”

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