Systems in Ukraine and a few worldwide were infected using powerful malware, showing people across the world what cyberwar really looks like.
In an office somewhere in Ukraine, a computer begins to boot up. All seems quiet – maybe it was just a glitch – until a new file opens up on the desktop. One lone extensionless file “PerfC.”
The Windows folder opens, and the file suddenly moves. Then the computer shuts down, and no one is around to see what has happened.
The next morning, employees are gathered as they normally would, grabbing coffee, chatting, and then something odd happens.
All the computers in the company begin reboot simultaneously. But instead of the Windows login screen, they’re met with a ransom note.
“Oops, your important files are encrypted…send $300 bitcoin to the following address.”
The hackers responsible want $300 worth of bitcoin for each and every infected computer.
The office descends into chaos, and the company’s executives are beside themselves. Well, they can’t just stop operations and wait for a fix. So they transfer one payment, just to see what will happen.
Hours pass and nothing changes, all the infected devices are still encrypted. But this was far more insidious than they expected.
Employees are dismissed, and when they leave the office, they realize that their company was not the only one impacted.
Gas stations, public transport, ATMs, hospitals, utility companies, and postal services are all down.
The entire country grinds to a halt as almost every company, industry, and business in Ukraine is down.
The incident didn’t just affect Ukraine, it spilled over borders: international shipping, medicine, fuel companies – anything that had an office in Ukraine.
Several more computers across the world would be affected, but little did they know that they were involved in the largest and most devastating cyberattack ever.
Which was caused by a weapon that showed the world what full-scale cyberwar looks like.
This is NotPetya.
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