More than one year since the notorious ransomware WannaCry attack, which wrought havoc on the NHS and cost the health care institution £92 million in reparation work, it would appear the malware is still active and causing damage.

According to research by Kaspersky Lab, the ransomware has affected almost 75,000 users across the globe since the original attack in May 2017.

The same research also revealed that WannaCry was responsible for 28% of all cryptor attacks in Q3 2018 – a growth of more than two thirds compared to Q3 2017.

Users Still Failing Basic Cybersecurity

David Emm, principal security researcher at Kaspersky Lab, commented: “It is concerning to see that WannaCry attacks have grown by almost two-thirds compared to the third quarter of last year.

“This is yet another reminder that epidemics don’t cease as rapidly as they begin – the consequences of these attacks are unavoidably long-lasting.”

At the time, the original WannaCry attack highlighted serious lapses in basic cybersecurity measures such as failing to update software, a measure that would help systems to resist the EternalBlue exploit that ransomeware leverages.

Shockingly, Kaspersky Lab research found that there are many unpatched computers worldwide and that cybercriminals continue to target these vulnerable systems.

“Cyber-attacks of this type can be so severe that it’s necessary for companies to take adequate preventive measures before a cyber-criminal acts – rather than focus on recovery,” Emm added.