Kalpetta: WannaCry, the crippling global ransomware malware, has been found in four computers at the Thariyode Panchayat office in Wayanad.
Employees, who reported for duty on Monday, found that the Wannacry malware, has locked the files when they switched on the computers.
After the computer is switched on, the message appears asking the user to pay money to obtain the files. The Wannacry malware enters the computer and locks the files.
The user will be able to view the files only after paying 300 bitcoins online.
Thariyode Panchayat finance standing committee chairman Suresh told Mathrubhumi.com that attempts are being made to solve the issue and it is hoped that the files can be retrieved by evening.
WannaCry virus has affected the computers at Aruvappalam Panchayat in Pathanamthitta also.
Kerala Police Cyberdome, the technological research and development centre of the state police, has alerted individuals and organisations against the crippling global ransomware attack WannaCry.
The agency also issued certain guidelines for computer and internet users in this regard.
In order to prevent infection, users and organizations are advised to apply patches to Windows systems as mentioned in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS17-010, it said.
The Cyberdome experts directed users to maintain updated antivirus software on all systems and check regularly for the integrity of the information stored in the databases.
It also requested users to regularly monitor contents of backup files of databases for any unauthorized encrypted contents of data records or external elements, (backdoors /malicious scripts).
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