The FCA has published a webpage advising firms to review newly published guidance from the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) with respect to the recent ransomware attack. The attack involves the “WannaCry” malware encrypting files and providing users with a ransom demand, countdown and a bitcoin wallet for payment of the ransom.

The NCSC guidance directs:

• home users and small businesses to run Windows updates and any antivirus products, as well as to back up important data; and
• enterprise administrators to take various steps to contain propagation of the malware (e.g. by deploying the appropriate patch, to enable certain domain names and updating antivirus products).

In addition, the FCA webpage advises firms that have been subject to an attack to visit the Action Fraud webpage or to contact them the FCA and to let their regulators know through the usual avenues.

The FCA webpage; NSCS guidance; and

Action Fraud webpage are available.