Experts predict another major cyber-attack

Another major cyber-attack could be imminent after last Friday's global hit that infected more than 125,000 computer systems, security experts have warned.

UK security researcher "MalwareTech", who helped to limit the ransomware attack, predicted "another one coming, quite likely on Monday".

The virus, which took control of users' files, spread to 100 countries, including Spain, France and Russia.

In England, 48 NHS trusts fell victim, as did 13 NHS bodies in Scotland.

Some hospitals were forced to cancel procedures and appointments, as ambulances were directed to neighbouring hospitals free from the computer virus.

UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd said on Saturday that the problem was largely resolved but that "there's always more" that could be done to protect against computer viruses.

In the UK, critics said the government had known about the threat of a cyber-attack for some time, but hospitals had not made the right upgrades to protect themselves.

A security update - or patch - was released by Microsoft in March to protect against the virus, but it appears many NHS organisations had not applied it or were using an older version of the operating system no longer supported - namely Windows XP.

NHS Digital said that 4.7% of devices within the NHS use Windows XP, with the figure continuing to decrease.

SOURCE: BBC News