Who is behind 'Petya' virus?


The virus called Petya has affected companies, government institutions, banks and airports in various continents. IT experts say the situation is under control, but the sustained losses leave many questions unanswered.

The computer behaves absolutely normally, until the user opens an infected e-mail. The virus also spreads to the computers on the same network.

‘Petya’ has affected more than two dozen countries around the world.

“After the computer gets infected, it downloads the virus called Petya, which is old enough. It is a module which encrypts the user’s computer which then reboots. Then the users see red text on the black background saying they are to pay $ 300,” says Sergey Nikitin, a cyber security expert from Moscow.

It all started with Ukraine, which suffered the most.

Not so long ago, Petya blocked there computer systems of banks, energy companies, government agencies, local area networks, the media and a number of large enterprises.

“The Cyberpolice Department of Ukraine received nearly 200 complaints of the computer system intrusions. The appeals came from both government agencies and private institutions. These appeals are received in Kyiv and regional offices of the cyberpolice unit,” said Yaroslav Trakala from the National Police of Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers reported that the cyber attacks had been stopped.

Work is under way to restore the data. The media reported about the threat to critical infrastructure, and nuclear power plants, but it was not confirmed.

Although the virus attack spread around the world, Russia’s “Rosneft” backed up their work on extra servers. Tourist companies faced problems, too. There have been failures in the hypermarket chains in France, a port in Mumbai, attempted attacks in the United States, Australia, Israel and dozens of other countries.

But there is still no clear answer as to who is behind the hacker attack. Kyiv and Washington officials talk of the Russian trace. But the Russian media put the blame on the United States.

Siarhei Padsasonny, Belsat

TWITTER