Ransomware has taken over an internal network at Spanish operator Telefónica and other companies throughout Europe, with Reuters reporting that the ransomware attack “involved a window appearing on employees’ computer screens that demanded payment with the virtual currency bitcoin in order to gain access to files.”
Telefonica confirmed the attack, saying that it “[affected] the PCs of some employees within the company’s internal corporate network.”
https://twitter.com/pedroparralc/status/863034785526140928
Telefonica’s chief data officer responded to the news in a thread on Twitter and said that it was exaggerated but that the carrier was working with some of the other companies who’d been affected.
Britain’s National Health Service has been affected as well, stating that it believes the malware variant is Wanna Decryptor.
Our statement on the reported ransomware issues: https://t.co/Pt47dvpbiR #nhscyberattack
— NHS Digital (@NHSDigital) May 12, 2017
Ransomware that hit #Telefónica and NHS pointing to same Bitcoin address and already receiving payments #nhscyberattack pic.twitter.com/eUtX7VsnRt
— Jorge Blasco (@guizos) May 12, 2017
In other chatter, some good visualizations cropped up on where the market is in terms of penetration — especially if you include children:
Mobile penetration looks different when you include children in the percentages. pic.twitter.com/IbDdxM86GK
— Benedict Evans (@benedictevans) May 10, 2017
And talk about some big numbers here:
By 2020, ~3/4 of the world’s population will be subscribed to a #mobile service. #4G #5G #MobileFirst @GSMA https://t.co/IOFno4wWUc pic.twitter.com/xHwWSQO22h
— Mike Quindazzi ✨ (@MikeQuindazzi) May 11, 2017
In the wake of Verizon snatching Straight Path and its millimeter wave spectrum right out of AT&T’s hands this week — and paying a huge premium along the way — Wall Street Journal profiled the guy behind Straight Path.
Howard Jonas, who sold a startup to AT&T for $1.1 billion in 2000, has struck gold again https://t.co/wh7DYM4kFq
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) May 12, 2017
And as first quarter carrier results wrap up, Walt Piecyk over at BTIG Research makes a good point to think about. Hmmmm. Theories?
Question 4 for $VZ investor meeting.
Why would Verizon buy AOL/Yahoo, but not Twitter/Spotify? https://t.co/CzhbFiHazd $TWTR pic.twitter.com/q0j7TajVPO
— Walter Piecyk (@WaltLightShed) May 8, 2017
Follow me on Twitter: @khillrcr, or email me: khill@rcrwireless.com
