WannaCry Ransomware: CERT-In Says No Report of Global 'Adylkuzz' Cryptocurrency Cyber-Attack in India

Allaying fears that after "WannaCrypt" ransomware, India will be targeted by a crypto-currency malware attack that quietly but swiftly generates digital cash from machines it has infected, the country's cyber-security unit on Thursday said India is safe from the "Adylkuzz" malware.

"There are no reports of this 'Adylkuzz' malware from the Indian establishments yet. Users are advised to maintain updated anti-virus software and apply patches to operating systems and applications on regular basis," Sanjay Bahl, Director General of the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), told IANS.

After facing a massive ransomware attack that exploited a vulnerability in a Microsoft software and hit 150 countries, the same Windows vulnerability (MS17-010) was also exploited to spread "Adylkuzz" by another group of hackers.

According to a report in The Registrar, tens of thousands of computers globally have been affected by the "Adylkuzz attack" that targets machines, lets them operate and only slows them down to generate digital cash or "Monero" crypto-currency in the background.

"Monero" - being popularised by North Korea-linked hackers - is an open-source crypto-currency created in April 2014 that focuses on privacy, decentralisation and scalability.

It is an alternative to Bitcoin and is being used for trading in drugs, stolen credit cards and counterfeit goods.

"There is no need to panic as "CERT-In publishes regular advisories and vulnerability notes on its website as well as some on Cyber Swachhta Kendra website", Bahl added.