The Not Petya cyberattack occurred in June 2017. More than 150 countries’ businesses and organisations caused damage of billions of dollars. But despite its scale and impact, the true story of Not Petya remains shrouded in mystery and misinformation. The attack began on June 27th, 2017, when malware spread through MeDoc. The malware is disguised as a software update and distributed through the organisation’s network.
It encrypted the hard drives of all the infected computers, rendering them unusable. The attackers demanded a ransom in Bitcoin to provide the decryption key, but the key supplied after paying the ransom didn’t work. Leaving the victims with no way to recover their data.
The initial reports of the attack suggested that it was a variant of the Petya ransomware. Yet, further analysis revealed that it was not ransomware but a wiper malware designed to cause tremendous damage. The attackers made it seem like a ransomware attack to distract from their true intent.
One of the most striking aspects of Not Petya was the scope of its impact. The attack affected shipping giant Maersk, pharmaceutical company Merck, and Ukraine’s international airport. It caused widespread disruption to infrastructure, with government agencies, banks, and utilities. Billions of dollars are estimated for the total cost of the attack. It is the most costly cyberattack in history.
The Untold Story of Not Petya remains Mystery
The true origins of Not Petya remain a mystery, with various theories circulating. Some experts have pointed to the involvement of a nation-state, with many pointing the finger at Russia. The attacker launched the attack a few days before Ukraine’s Independence Day, which targeted Ukrainian businesses and infrastructure.
This attack led many to believe it was a targeted attack against Ukraine. But, the Russian government has denied involvement in the attack. The result of the attackers’ true identity remains unknown. After the attack, companies focus more on cybersecurity and disaster recovery planning.
The episode highlighted the vulnerability of businesses and organisations to cyberattacks. And emphasised the importance of having robust cybersecurity measures. To prevent and mitigate the impact of such attacks. Because of the attack, many organisations have to rethink their approach to cybersecurity. Organisations realised they needed more than traditional antivirus to protect them against advanced threats like Not Petya.
They needed a more comprehensive approach, including incident response and disaster recovery planning. There are lots of companies that have more effective strategies to prevent cyberattacks. You can buy these services from them and secure your online and offline presence on the internet. Companies can customise cybersecurity services according to their needs from the numerous options available in the market.
In conclusion, the Not Petya cyberattack of 2017 was a costly cyber attack in history. We can learn from that and protect our data with more secure and reliable encryption. Eliminate the usage of old antiviruses to protect your company’s valuable data. So, your company can prevent a cyberattack like Not Petya in the future.