Tanzania hasn’t been spared in the WannaCry ransomware attack. Photo: Daniel Hayduk
Tanzania hasn’t been spared in the WannaCry ransomware attack, however it’s unclear how many computers have been attacked.
The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) says they are ‘aware of a number of reported incidents’ of the malicious software, which locks Windows users out of their computers until a ransom is paid.
Victims are being asked to pay a ransom of approximately $300 USD (670,000 TSH) to unlock their computer.
Globally, it is believed over 230,000 computers in nearly 100 countries have been infected, including Britain’s health service, a telecoms company in Spain, the German rail network, among others.
A kill switch was been found for WannaCry, which has slowed its spread, however new versions of the ransomware have already reportedly been detected.
How can you protect yourself? Back up your files to a separate device, keep your anti-virus and computer software up to date.
Has your computer been attacked? Contact the National Computer Emergency Response Team at info@tzcert.go.tz or incidents@tzcert.go.tz or +255 784 558 270.
A map from global cybersecurity company Kaspersky shows Tanzania as one of several African countries hit by the WannaCry attack. Photo: Kaspersky
Editor’s note: 11:00 – updated to include link to Mirosoft patch.
Advice from the TCRA has been published on the https://www.tzcert.go.tz website at https://www.tzcert.go.tz/critical-alert-to-computer-users/