The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned that destructive computer viruses are rising and can cause severe damage. The FBI said that such viruses can “render computers inoperable, steal information, or destroy data in a recent report.”
The FBI advises users to take precautions to protect their computers from these viruses, such as installing antivirus software and keeping it up to date. The agency also recommends careful about what websites you visit and what attachments you open and never clicking on links or downloading files from unknown sources.
​The FBI and CISA have issued warnings about the WhisperGate and HermeticWiper viruses, which are capable of causing severe damage. These viruses are highly sophisticated and can erase data, disable systems, and even steal information. As a result, users are advised to take precautions to protect themselves and their systems.
According to some reports, the malware known as WhisperGate and HermeticWiper is some of the most dangerous malware in recent times. This malware can cause serious harm to your computer, so it is essential to take precautions to protect yourself. You can take several steps to reduce your risk, including installing antivirus software and keeping your software up to date. You should also be careful when opening email attachments or clicking on links and avoid visiting websites that may contain malicious code.
Initially, the ransomware distributors were motivated by financial gains. However, it has become clear that they aim to destroy infected systems this time.
WhisperGate first caused problems for some organizations last October, as far as we know. On January 15, Microsoft disclosed the risks of the acquisition.
Meanwhile, HermeticWiper, which first appeared in November last year but started to cause real problems last month, has also made progress. However, it is important to keep in mind that this malware is still evolving, and new variants may emerge in the future.
Malicious programs have been heightened due to recent events in Ukraine. Since the outbreak of the war, malicious programs have become the main target of attacks against Ukrainian organizations, causing significant damage.
The FBI and CISA have jointly released a report highlighting the dangers of two malicious programs and urged companies and organizations to prepare their systems to protect against the two malware attacks.
WhisperGate and HermeticWiper are both classified as severe threats to information security. They primarily enter targeted systems through email, other communication channels, and unpatched vulnerabilities.
They first overwrite files on infected computers, rendering them unrecoverable. This can be done in a number of ways, including software that destroys files or overwrites the disk space they occupy. Their final act is to overwrite the MBR (Master Boot Record), rendering the affected systems completely unusable. This can cause significant data loss, as the MBR contains information about where all of a system's files are stored. If this part of the system is damaged or destroyed, the files may be inaccessible.
Malware can have a devastating impact on organizations, disrupting day-to-day operations and compromising critical assets and data. The FBI classifies destructive malware as a direct threat to organizations' security. These attacks currently target organizations in Ukraine, but they could quickly spread to other countries. It is therefore important to take preventive measures. A number of steps can be taken to improve security in an organization, including strengthening the protection of remote access channels, regular backups, patch management, network segmentation, and strict access management.
