US declares N. Korea led huge WannaCry cyberattack
Washington, (MILLAT ONLINE):The United States officially accused North Korea late Monday of carrying out the massive WannaCry attack that infected some 300,000 computers in 150 countries earlier this year.
North Korea was widely suspected of being behind the computer virus and ransomware, which demanded payment to restore access. It has been denounced as such by Britain, but the United States had yet to follow suit.
Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert made the announcement in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, and was expected to provide more details in a briefing with reporters early Tuesday.
“The attack was widespread and cost billions, and North Korea is directly responsible,” he wrote.
“We do not make this allegation lightly. It is based on evidence.”
Among the infected computers were those at Britain’s National Health Service (NHS), Spanish telecoms company Telefonica and US logistics company FedEx.
“These disruptions put lives at risk,” Bossert wrote.
“North Korea has acted especially badly, largely unchecked, for more than a decade, and its malicious behavior is growing more egregious. WannaCry was indiscriminately reckless.”