A new, highly virulent strain of malicious software that is crippling computers globally appears to have been sown in Ukraine, where it hobbled much of the government and private sector.
Yesterday's cyber-assault hit hospitals, banks, government offices, transport hubs, gas stations, supermarkets and major multinationals with a ransomware payload that locks up computer files with encryption and demands a ransom for its release.
Ukraine and Russia appeared hardest hit, followed by Poland, Italy and Germany.
Canadian companies have not reported any affect, but in the U-S, the ransomware affected drugmaker Merck, as well as the conglomerate that owns Oreo and Nabisco, and two hospitals in Pennsylvania.
The virus' pace appeared to slow by this morning.