What is a notable example of a cyber attack that occurred in 2017?

What is a notable example of a cyber attack that occurred in 2017?

• A. The 2019 SolarWinds attack
• B. The 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack
• C. The 2020 Twitter breach
• D. The 2018 Marriott data breach

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is recognizing a standout cyber event from that year and understanding why it drew so much attention. In 2017, the WannaCry ransomware attack became notable because it infected hundreds of thousands of computers across more than 150 countries in a single wave. It spread like a worm by taking advantage of a Windows vulnerability in the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol, which allowed it to move between machines with little or no user action. Once a system was infected, WannaCry encrypted files and demanded a ransom in Bitcoin. Its impact was especially striking because it hit many critical organizations, including the UK’s National Health Service, causing widespread service disruptions and forcing hospitals to cancel appointments and divert emergency care. The outbreak underscored how dangerous it is to rely on unpatched systems and outdated software: a patch had been released by Microsoft earlier in the year, but many systems remained unpatched or unsupported, making them easy targets. It also highlighted the importance of robust backups and incident response planning, since paying the ransom is not a reliable or effective solution. Other events listed occurred in different years, not 2017, which is why WannaCry stands out for that year.

The main idea being tested is recognizing a standout cyber event from that year and understanding why it drew so much attention. In 2017, the WannaCry ransomware attack became notable because it infected hundreds of thousands of computers across more than 150 countries in a single wave. It spread like a worm by taking advantage of a Windows vulnerability in the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol, which allowed it to move between machines with little or no user action. Once a system was infected, WannaCry encrypted files and demanded a ransom in Bitcoin.

Its impact was especially striking because it hit many critical organizations, including the UK’s National Health Service, causing widespread service disruptions and forcing hospitals to cancel appointments and divert emergency care. The outbreak underscored how dangerous it is to rely on unpatched systems and outdated software: a patch had been released by Microsoft earlier in the year, but many systems remained unpatched or unsupported, making them easy targets. It also highlighted the importance of robust backups and incident response planning, since paying the ransom is not a reliable or effective solution.

Other events listed occurred in different years, not 2017, which is why WannaCry stands out for that year.