This content was created by Robert Siciliano. This content was uploaded by Robert Siciliano. This is a YouTube clip titled "WannaCry Ransomware Protect Yourself" (published 2017-05-19) containing an Al Jazeera interview. The exchange is between an Al Jazeera host/interviewer and Robert Siciliano, a security analyst at Hotspot Shield, live from Boston. They discuss preparedness for renewed WannaCry ransomware attacks: Siciliano recommends keeping Windows systems up to date (automatic updates), maintaining backups, notes there is no known way to recover encrypted data without backups, discourages paying ransoms because it funds criminals, and says he is unaware of vulnerabilities affecting Apple devices.
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For more on this, let's bring in Robert Siciliano in Boston. He's a security analyst at the internet security company Hotspot Shield. Robert, thanks for being with Al Jazeera. So how are businesses at the moment going to prepare for a possibly renewed cyberattack?
So if your software, especially your operating system, your Windows operating system, is properly updated, generally with automatic updates, you should be fine. So devices that have been protected for the past couple of months since Microsoft offered the patch back in March have and are protected now and go and should be going forward.
Does that mean that it's too late for those computers that have already been affected?
So if your device is not updated, that doesn't necessarily mean that the device is actually infected. But if your device has been infected, currently, uh, I am unaware of a workaround, meaning a way to get your data back unencrypted. So if you don't have backup and your device is infected and your information is encrypted, then essentially you're out of luck.
So what do you make of the advice that I think the FBI has basically been saying about users paying the ransom? Do you think that's wise in your opinion?
So I've never been a fan of paying off criminal organizations, and I don't know why the FBI would recommend that other than if that was your, you know, your only resort. So if you have your data backed up, obviously it's essentially a non-issue, and then just reinstall your operating system. If it's worth it to you to spend the $300 to $600 to get your data back, which in effect is funding a criminal organization, then that's your prerogative.
Now, we know that this has mainly targeted Microsoft users, but those that work with Apple, should they be worried?
I am unaware of a vulnerability on Mac devices. So if you are an iPhone or an iPad, you have nothing to worry about. If you are on a Mac device with the various operating systems that, you know, Leopard and so forth, I believe you have less, if nothing, to be concerned about. I am unaware of an actual virus targeting an Apple environment.
All right, Robert Siciliano live for us there in Boston, thank you.
