KOZHIKODE: The Wanna Cry ransomware attack - one of the largest ever cyber attacks affecting computers across the globe – on Monday hit computer systems in panchayat offices across Kerala.
Officers said four computers of the Thariod grama panchayat office at Wayanad were infected in the cyber-attack on Monday. Panchayat Secretary Sibi Varghese told the New Indian Express that all data files saved in Excel and Word applications had crashed and were not opening in any of their four computers.
"We had a suspicion about the virus on Friday evening while shutting down the computers. When we tried to open the files on Monday, we could only see pop up messages saying 'Oops your files have been encrypted!!! Pay money to open it', Sibi Varghese said.
The secretary said the State government provided application software was still functioning and only the data files had crashed.
"We have apprised the Panchayat Directorate of the incident. We will also be lodging a complaint with the cyber police wing," he added.
Renjith A - project manager of Computer Emergency Response Team-Kerala (CERT-Kerala), a nodal agency of Kerala State IT Mission for cyber security - said the spread of malware in computers at different panchayats showed ‘worm’ characteristics - replicating itself to spread to different computers.
“Earlier, it was thought the malware would affect a system only if someone opens a particular weblink in a vulnerable computer. But now it’s clear the malware can infect offline systems,” he said. Computers running on non-updated Microsof t Windows operating systems like XP, Vista, 8.1, 7 are vulnerable.
CERT-Kerala has informed officers of the Information Kerala Mission, which implements IT projects in local bodies, on vulnerability of computers. It has advised the use of software patch and to disable TCP/ UDP 445 port as immediate precautions.
Meanwhile, the Wannacry attack affected seven computers in the Thrikovilvattom panchayat office in Kollam on Monday. Technical assistant Manesh said there was no data loss but precautions to block the malware from spreading have been taken.
Meanwhile, the malware disrupted computer systems at Aruvapalam grama panchayat, in Konni, Pathanamthitta. The staff got a three hour deadline and a message asking for $300 as ransom not to destroy files. If not paid, the ransom will go thrice higher , said the warning note. The authorities said restoration of computers was going on till evening.
Authorities said restoration work of files was on.
In Thiruvananthapuram, the ransomware attack has been reported in Karavaram panchayat.
In Thrissur, the dreaded malware affected computers in Annamanada and Kuzhur panchayat offices. Kuzhur panchayat secretary T V Vijay said the virus affected five computers in the office. While two computers were affected in Annamanada, some files were recovered.
"The panchayat officers had problems since Friday, but it was on Monday that they could not open the computer. They decided not to open the other computers after they realised that it was the Wannacry attack," he added.
In both panchayats, day-to-day activities like issuing pension, death and birth certificates etc came to a standstill following the attack.