PSA: ‘WannaCrypt’ Ransomware Prevention and Help

Throughout the week, the ransomware known as, “WannaCrypt”, has been plaguing the world by exploiting a NSA exploit in Microsoft Windows. We can help you prevent this from happening to you. Or help you out if it already got you!

Prevention

1. Install Windows Updates

Microsoft has released fixes for all supported versions of Windows, however since this is so severe, Microsoft has released updates even to Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 to help stop the madness!

Users that are most vulnerable are PCs running Windows 7 or earlier and are unpatched.

How to check for updates in Windows 10

1. Open the start menu
2. Open Settings
3. Click Update & Security
4. Click Windows Update
5. Click Check for updates
6. Follow the on-screen prompts

How to check for update in Windows 8 or Windows 8.1

1. Open Start
2. Type pc settings
3. Tap or click PC Settings
4. Tap or click Update & Recovery (only in Windows 8.1)
5. Tap or click Windows Update
6. Tap or click Check for updates now
7. Select all Important Updates
8. Tap or click Install
9. Follow the on-screen prompts

How to check for updates in Windows Vista or Windows 7

1. Open the start menu
2. Open Control Panel
3. Click System and Security
4. Click Windows Update
5. Click Check for updates in the left pane
6. Select all Important Updates
7. Click Install
8. Follow the on-screen prompts

How to check for updates in Windows XP

1. Open the start menu
2. Hover over All Programs
3. Click Windows Update
4. Follow the on-screen prompts
5. Click Express
6. Follow the on-screen prompts

2. Install or update anti-virus software

Another major defense is to have anti-virus software installed.

We recommend Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows 7 or earlier.

3. Block the port via the router and Windows

The port responsible for this, is SMB 445.

We recommend looking at your router’s documentation or searching with Bing for blocking the port.

To block it in Windows, view the documentation on Microsoft’s support page. There is consequence of disabling the port, including some additional functionality, but really, your safety is more important.

Affected

Quite unfortunate? You’ll need advanced tools to recover the device.

Use Windows Defender Offline

The PC right now is unusable, to recover from it. Use Windows Defender Offline to remove the ransomware. To recover the PC, you’ll need to create media to repair it on a PC that is unaffected, because you will be unable to create whist the malware is on your PC.

Follow the guide to fix your PC, on the Windows Defender Offline page.

We all hope this helps! Feel free to ask for additional help in the comments.

Need more help?

Ask us below!

–All the people at Andre’s Computer Tips