UK based researcher shuts down WannaCry Ransomware Attack

26 May 2017

The WannaCry ransomware attack, which started on the May 12th, 2017, targeted the Microsoft Windows Operating System and demanded ransom in the Bitcoin cryptocurrency. Eventually shut down by a UK-based research company named MalwareTech, the virus affected more than 230,000 PCs in less than 24 hours, including over 48 NHS hospitals across the UK. The 22-year old who solved the problem realised that the domain wasn't registered, registered it, and put a halt to the attack.

The spread of virus exposed the vulnerabilities of a system, exposing valuable data and in turn showing how important the role of cyber security professionals is.

According to a Cisco report, the demand for cyber security professionals is expected to rise to 6 million by 2019, with the current number of cyber security experts currently around 1.5 million.

For students planning to study undergraduate computer science, a specialisation in cyber security is a great career option, with the demand for qualified professionals only growing.