{"id":24386,"date":"2023-01-12T22:07:42","date_gmt":"2023-01-13T03:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/?p=24386"},"modified":"2023-01-12T22:07:42","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T03:07:42","slug":"royal-mail-hit-by-russia-linked-ransomware-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2023\/01\/12\/royal-mail-hit-by-russia-linked-ransomware-attack\/","title":{"rendered":"Royal Mail hit by Russia-linked ransomware attack"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Severe disruption to Royal Mail’s overseas deliveries has been caused by ransomware linked to Russian criminals, the BBC has been told.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The cyber-attack has affected the computer systems Royal Mail uses to despatch deliveries abroad.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Royal Mail has been warning customers since Wednesday of disruption due to a “cyber-incident”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Its latest advice is for people not to try to send international letters and parcels until the issue is resolved.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Ransomware is malicious computer software that encrypts data and locks up systems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The ransomware used in the attack is “Lockbit”, according to a source close to the investigation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Computer security firms say the software has been developed and used by criminal gangs with links to Russia.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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BBC cyber reporter Joe Tidy has seen a ransom note sent by the criminals to Royal Mail which reads: “Your data are stolen and encrypted’.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The ransom demand is expected to be in the millions, although sources close to the investigation say there are “workarounds” to get the system going again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Ransomware attacks are a persistent threat to organisations around the world over with attacks happening on a nearly daily basis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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But this situation is highly significant, as Royal Mail is what is deemed “critical national infrastructure” – that is, it is critical to the UK economy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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