# Petya ransomware attack: How UK businesses can stay protected online
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2017-07-08
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Protect Your Business from Petya Ransomware Attacks
Meta Description: Learn how to secure your network from the recent Petya attack with tips from Ebuyer. Don't let ransomware compromise your data and systems.
URL: https://financedigest.com/petya-ransomware-attack-how-uk-businesses-can-stay-protected-onlinehtml

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- **The recent Petya attack hit companies across Europe and the US**
- **Ebuyer offers businesses across the UK tips on how to protect themselves from online ransomware**

Businesses and organisations across Europe and the US were hit by a large-scale cyber attack, known as Petya, leaving them unable to access systems and data.

Petya is a form of ransomware, meaning it is a computer virus which encrypts files and keeps them encrypted until the hacker receives payment. Petya takes advantage of vulnerabilities in old Microsoft Windows systems, leaving anyone without the latest version in jeopardy.

So far, Petya has infected high-profile victims including advertising giant WPP, French construction materials company Saint-Gobain and Russian steel and [oil firms](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-prices-hold-firm-amid-hopes-for-economic-growth.html "Oil prices hold firm amid hopes for economic growth") Evraz and Rosneft. The attack was first reported in Ukraine, where the government, banks, state [power utility](https://www.financedigest.com/demand-for-electrical-safety-insulating-gloves-is-strong-in-the-power-utility-industry-unveils-fact-mr.html "Demand for Electrical Safety Insulating Gloves Is Strong In The Power Utility Industry Unveils Fact.MR") and Kiev’s airport and metro system were all affected.

With this in mind Ebuyer.com, shares five ways [businesses can protect](https://www.financedigest.com/fx-hedging-strategies-to-protect-your-business.html "FX hedging strategies to protect your business") themselves against online ransomware:

IT [managers and directors should be taking regular steps to ensure their network is secure and all security software](https://www.financedigest.com/calibration-management-software-market-to-witness-exponential-growth-by-2030-end-tmr-study.html "Calibration Management Software Market to Witness Exponential Growth by 2030 End | TMR Study") is up to date.

Gateway security (a machine through which data packets flow) should be employed and next-generation firewalls installed to allow for deep-packet inspection – a form of [computer network](https://www.financedigest.com/hackers-hit-italian-oil-company-enis-computer-networks.html "Hackers hit Italian oil company Eni’s computer networks") packet filtering that examines data as it passes an inspection point. This will help identify hidden threats passing into your network.

Implement internal monitoring and endpoint protection; a method of protecting corporate networks when accessed via [remote](https://www.financedigest.com/the-remote-patient-monitoring-device-market-to-get-digitally-innovative.html "The Remote Patient Monitoring Device Market to get digitally innovative") devices such as laptops or other wireless and mobile devices. This will prevent malicious files from gaining access to the network by human error.

It is essential that a reliable and thoroughly tested backup solution be put in place. This should be segregated from the rest of the network to prevent malware from spreading to it once infected.

Ensure systems are up to date and supported for exploit patches.

New data protection laws are coming into play in May 2018 which will replace the [current](https://www.financedigest.com/shock-data-logger-market-2021-outlook-current-and-future-industry-landscape-analysis-2029.html "Shock Data Logger Market 2021 Outlook, Current and Future Industry Landscape Analysis 2029") Data Protection Act (DPA) with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

[Businesses need](https://www.financedigest.com/setting-up-a-business-in-the-uk-heres-what-you-need-to-know.html "Setting up a business in the UK? Here’s what you need to know.") to ensure that their systems are fully protected in order to minimise the risk of breaches. Protecting malware from gaining [access is also essential](https://www.financedigest.com/luxury-to-essential-latam-boosts-internet-access-in-pandemic.html "Luxury to essential: Latam boosts internet access in pandemic") for any company which relies on its network or software to run its service.

Paul Lyon, IT Director at Ebuyer, said: “The cyber attacks on such large companies and the resulting fallout have once again brought into focus the importance of security both at [home and in the office](https://www.financedigest.com/cavai-tests-innovative-new-approach-for-the-home-offices-parentwise-pilot-campaign-helping-parents-and-carers-in-the-west-midlands.html "Cavai tests innovative new approach for the Home Office’s ‘ParentWise’ pilot campaign helping parents and carers in the West Midlands"). [Ransomware has been around for some time but this is by far the most high-profile attack](https://www.financedigest.com/biden-orders-probe-of-latest-ransomware-attack.html "Biden orders probe of latest ransomware attack").

“Cybercrime is a [growing industry](https://www.financedigest.com/growing-transportation-industry-is-driving-demand-for-aluminum-sheet-market.html "Growing Transportation Industry Is Driving Demand For Aluminum Sheet Market") and criminals are becoming significantly more sophisticated and their attacks more destructive. New threats are constantly being developed. Businesses of all sizes, as well as the ordinary home user, are [vulnerable to attacks and should always](https://www.financedigest.com/having-a-will-is-always-important-but-why-is-it-so-much-more-important-when-a-child-is-vulnerable-or-has-a-disability.html "Having a Will is always Important but Why is it so Much More Important When a Child is Vulnerable or has a Disability? ") be on their guard.”


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