Question

The ever big Cyber Attack in history which affected almost 150 countries of the world is :

• A. Wanna Cry
• B. Solar Sunrise
• C. The Melisa Virus
• D. Malcon

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Wanna Cry

• WannaCry Ransomware Attack - The Biggest Cyber Attack in History

• The WannaCry (also known as WannaCrypt) ransomware attack that occurred on May 12, 2017, is considered the most significant and widespread cyber attack in history. This massive cyber assault affected approximately 150 countries worldwide, causing unprecedented global disruption.

• Key Details about WannaCry:

  • Nature of Attack: It was a ransomware cryptoworm that targeted computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system

  • Impact: The attack affected over 200,000 computers across 150 countries

  • Victims: Major organizations including hospitals (NHS in UK), telecommunications companies, government agencies, and businesses were affected

  • Mechanism: The malware encrypted data on infected systems and demanded ransom payments in Bitcoin cryptocurrency

  • Vulnerability Exploited: WannaCry exploited a Windows vulnerability called EternalBlue, which was allegedly developed by the US National Security Agency (NSA)

• Why Other Options are Incorrect:

  • Solar Sunrise (Option B): This was a series of cyber attacks in 1998 targeting US military computer systems - much smaller in scale

  • The Melissa Virus (Option C): This was a 1999 email virus that caused significant damage but was limited compared to WannaCry

  • Malcon (Option D): This is not a recognized major cyber attack

• The WannaCry attack highlighted the critical importance of cybersecurity, regular software updates, and the global interconnected nature of cyber threats.