Blog

Security advisory and response

16 May 2017

The team at Maxim would like to provide a brief update on Maxim's response to the WannaCry Ransomware attacks.

We will briefly cover the following:

  • What is the WannaCry Ransomware attack?
  • What was Maxim's response?
  • How you can protect yourself.

What is the WannaCry Ransomware attack?
The WannaCry Ransomware attack is when the files on your computer are encrypted (locked) and held ransom, the hackers then demand money to unlock the files.

How is this ransomware transmitted?
This ransomware is transmitted via links within emails. You should be very careful when opening links in emails especially from people you do not know. 

What was Maxim's response?
Maxim promptly initiated a security review with our IT service provider ITCO. All Maxim servers are secure and have already been patched with the update provided by Microsoft.

We are monitoring the situation and following advice from our IT providers ITCO and CERT NZ (Computer Emergency Response Team of New Zealand - a NZ Government Agency).

How you can protect yourself
The advice provided from CERT NZ is:

  • Make sure you have backed up your system and files securely, off-network.
  • Make sure you have patched your system. If you have computers between Windows XP - Windows Server 2008 R2 you need to make sure the MS17-010 patch from Microsoft is installed. Windows 10 computers will automatically have this update installed as long as Windows Updates have not been disabled. If you are running an outdated version of Windows (eg: XP, Windows Server 2003, Thin Clients running Windows XP Embedded, Windows 8) you can download the update from here.
  • Be careful when opening emails and clicking on links.
  • Make sure firewalls & anti-virus software is installed and up-to-date, and fully operational.
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