cybersecurity
Another major ransomware cyberattack is crippling countries across the globe, primarily targeting businesses in Ukraine, Russia and Western Europe. Reuters/Kacper Pempel

Just over a month after the devastating WannaCry ransomware wreaked havoc worldwide, businesses and governments were hit with yet another massive cyberattack sweeping across the globe. On Tuesday, a malware based on Petya — a ransomware that first began making the rounds in 2016 — struck thousands of computers in Ukraine and Russia before spreading throughout Europe and elsewhere.

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Some researchers have dubbed the new variant "NotPetya" or "GoldenEye" while some are calling it PetrWrap. Similar to WannaCry, the malware uses the Eternal Blue exploit as one of the means to propagate itself inside a targeted network, takes control of the infected machine and demands $300 (£234) in bitcoin before a victim can regain access.

The ransomware has already affected multiple high-profile firms including Britain's advertising giant WPP, Cadbury in Tasmania, Danish shipping company AP Moller-Maersk, French construction materials firm Saint-Gobain, Russian steel and oil companies Evraz and Rosneft

Ukrainian government departments, the central bank, the airport in Kiev and the metro network have all been affected by the cyberattack as well.

Here is the full list of countries affected by the attack as of the morning of 28 June, 2017:

Europe

  • UK
  • Ukraine
  • Russia
  • France
  • Spain
  • Denmark
  • Germany
  • Poland
  • Belarus
  • Lithuania
  • Norway
  • Netherlands
  • Holland
  • Romania

Asia

  • India
  • China
  • South Korea

North America

  • US

South America

  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Argentina

Middle East

  • Turkey
  • Israel

Oceania

  • Australia
  • New Zealand