Biggest Hack affects millions May 12, 2017

[badkuk]

They're speculating that a lot of the computers in NHS are still running Windows XP, hence the gravity of the attack. imho this is more a malware outbreak than it is a hack attack ... which is kinda good, since there is no group of "evil hackers" breaking into the government/corporations...bad, because anybody, even your lola's PC at home, is a target.

[Monseratto]

Ransomware cyber-attack a wake-up call, Microsoft warns - BBC News

Although a temporary fix earlier slowed the infection rate, the attackers had now released a new version of the virus, he said.

A UK security researcher known as "MalwareTech", who helped to limit the ransomware attack, predicted "another one coming... quite likely on Monday".

[badkuk]

Dunno if my understanding is correct...even without the patches from Microsoft for vulnerable Windows OSes, can't you configure the built-in firewall to block incoming file & printer/windows sharing and stop the exploit before it happens?

[chronicle]

^
You can configure port blocking. But then, you won't be able to use the said port and its use.
Also, we dont know when the next malware will attack and what port will it use. So blocking all ports is not really a good option unless your business or user only uses a very specific port and nothing else.