WannaCry ransomware continues to cause victims and this time it appears that the virus has even managed to download traffic lights and speed cameras in Australia.
The WannaCry malware locks down systems by encrypting files and demanding a ransom to decrypt them. Microsoft already delivered patches for all versions of Windows earlier this year, but older systems remain vulnerable.
In the case of the Australian incident, radio station 3aw reports that everything is due to human error, as someone apparently connected an infected USB device that allowed the malware to spread across the network.
However, while some 55 cameras were taken down by WannaCry, the servers running the cameras had not been compromised, as they do not use Windows, local officials said. In addition, IT engineers are in the process of developing patches to prevent the spread of WannaCry, they said.
“The Department is in the process of removing the virus from the affected cameras. The remaining sites will be fixed over the next two days. The software virus has not affected the accuracy of the camera system. All breaches during this period have been recorded correctly and no breach has been affected by the virus “, said a press spokesperson for Justice and Regulation.
The seller of the Redflex Traffic Systems camera has already contacted to help address the case, while authorities explain that only the cameras need to restart to apply the updated code version. The majority of the cameras have already been stabilized, with a small number still infected, but they are expected to be cleaned as soon as possible.
Even though it is not very clear when the total of infected occurred, Australian officials say that a few days ago evidence of WannaCry was detected and it is not known at this point whether other systems were affected or not.
