Alert: Petya Cyberattack
Over the last 24 hours a new Cyberattack has been spreading across Europe, Russia and the US. Most recently it has compromised part of pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. network systems in New Jersey.
This hostile “ransomware” called Petya steals your data and holds it for ransom before destroying it. Visit the following link for additional information on the Petya Cyberattack https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/27/technology/ransomware-hackers.html.
The ransomware enters networks through malicious emails (phishing), or by being downloaded from infected websites. Once on a network, the infection is able to jump from one computer to another by exploiting vulnerabilities in the way that Windows computers share files and other services. NJIT's network has not been infected and Information Services and Technology Division (IST) is taking steps to continue to protect our systems.
As a reminder, to avoid becoming the victim of a Cyberattack:
- Do not open any attachments you were not expecting even if they come from someone you know
- Be wary of suspicious links in emails and websites
- Keep your Windows operating system up to date (run Windows Update if you are unsure)
- Verify that your Antivirus protection is current and running (check with your Antivirus vendor for details on how to make sure you have the latest definitions and updates)
Staying cyber safe and secure requires constant vigilance! For additional information visit the IST page on Avoiding Phishing Scams.
Questions should be referred to the IST Service Desk at (973) 596-2900 or online at http://help.njit.edu.