What Is Ransomware and How Did WannaCry Work?
WannaCry: The Global Cyberattack That Shook the World in 2017 In May 2017, millions of users around the world woke up to one of the most frightening digital extortion messages in history. A bright red screen warned that all your files had been encrypted , and you must pay $300 in Bitcoin to get them back — or lose everything forever. This was the infamous WannaCry Ransomware , one of the most destructive cyberattacks ever launched. Within just a few hours, the malware had infected over 200,000 computers across 150 countries , striking hospitals, corporations, and government institutions worldwide. 📌 What Is Ransomware and How Did WannaCry Work? Encrypts a victim’s files Blocks access to the system Demands payment in exchange for decryption According to Microsoft’s official SMBv1 security advisory ( https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2017/ms17-010 ), WannaCry exploited a critical vulnerability in the Server Message Block v1 (SM...