WannaCry Ransomware (2017)

One of the most significant ransomware attacks in history is the one known as WannaCry, which occurred in May 2017. This attack spread rapidly across the globe, infecting over 200,000 computers in more than 150 countries. It exploited a vulnerability in the Windows operating system and spread from one computer to another without requiring any user intervention. WannaCry blocked access to user files and encrypted them. Once the system was infected, a message appeared on the screen demanding payment in Bitcoin to restore the data. The message created a sense of urgency, warning that if the payment was not made within a specific timeframe, the files would be permanently lost. One of the most severely impacted sectors was the healthcare system in the United Kingdom, specifically the National Health Service (NHS). Many hospitals were forced to cancel surgeries and appointments as their computer systems were completely locked down. This demonstrated that cyberattacks do not just affect data, but also have real-life consequences for people. What made this attack even more dangerous was its automatic propagation (acting like a "worm") and the fact that many organizations had failed to update their systems with the latest security patches.