Kaspersky Lab says although the WannaCry ransomware can infect computers even without the vulnerability, EternalBlue is "the most significant factor" in the global outbreak. Attack code targeting that vulnerability was released publicly by Shadow Brokers, a group that has been leaking stolen hacking tools purportedly from the NSA.
A statement from NHS Digital said: "A number of NHS organisations have reported to NHS Digital that they have been affected by a "ransomware" attack".
More than half of Scotland's health boards have been affected by a large-scale cyber attack on NHS computer systems.
Several British hospitals were hit by a cyber attack on Friday, the country's National Health Service said, forcing some to divert ambulances to other clinics and urge people not to contact their doctors.
Hospitals across Britain found themselves without access to their computers or phone systems.
Many cancelled all routine procedures and asked patients not to come to the hospitals unless it was an emergency.
The BBC also understands that West Middlesex Hospital was affected.
English hospitals and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in London, Blackpool, Hertfordshire and Derbyshire were among those to report problems.
Hospitals, with their often outdated IT systems and trove of confidential patient data, are a particularly tempting target.
NHS Digital said it was working with the government's National Cyber Security Centre, the Department of Health and NHS England to help the organizations affected "to manage the incident swiftly and decisively".
Stromgren said the computers shut down and restarted with a message saying that the files had been encrypted and demanding payment for access.
The attackers who shut down Britain's National Health Service have demanded $300 worth of the online currency Bitcoin.
Grimsby's Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital IS affected — NHS cyber attack
Patient services, including emergency services, are continuing to operate across Scotland, the Government at Holyrood confirmed. By one security firm's count, the malware struck at least 74 countries, including the USA , where its effects seemed muted.
According to Alan Woodward, a visiting professor of computing at the University of Surrey, this particular malware emerged in February, and it has one objective: "to extort money in return for releasing the data it has encrypted".
Although Microsoft released a security patch for the flaw earlier this year, many systems have yet to be updated, researchers said.
"But will simply have been that the ransomware has sought out those organisations that are running susceptible devices", Mr Woodward said.
The problem is also affecting the switchboard at Newham hospital, Barts said.
"For so many organisations in the same day to be hit, this is unprecedented", Mr Wysopal said.
Spain, meanwhile, activated a special protocol to protect critical infrastructure in response to the "massive infection" of personal and corporate computers in ransomware attacks.
The Spanish government said several companies had been targeted in ransomware cyberattack that affected the Windows operating system of employees' computers.
Portugal Telecom (PT) has also been affected, though a spokeswoman didn't say whether it was a WannaCry attack.
In the United States the package delivery giant Fedex acknowledged it was hit by malware after one researcher cited the company as a target.
A spokesman for Barts Health NHS Trust in London said it was experiencing "major IT disruption" and delays at all four of its hospitals. But there's no evidence so far that patient data has been accessed, NHS Digital said.
"We'd like to reassure patients that if they need the NHS and it's an emergency that they should visit [Accident & Emergency services] in the same way as they normally would and staff will ensure they get the care they need", NHS incident director Anne Rainsberry said in a statement. A spokesperson for FedEx confirmed to ABC News that the company is among the victims of the ransomware attacks.
"Every time this happens it hurts the underlying product's reputation", Parakh said.
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