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>> against unpatched Windows 7 systems

>> Since data integrity and confidential information haven’t been compromised, the company believes the attack wasn’t the work of a hacker

>> According to CEO C.C. Wei, the attack is purely due to the company’s own negligence. Wei also said that he doesn’t think there is any hacking behavior involved.

Those three lines sum up the article.

From a different article, the virus got onto their network when they installed some type of new software/tool. They didn't check it before they deployed it, turns out it had wannacry on it. Since the networks this virus infected weren't internet connected, it didn't hit the kill-switch domain. So it was left to run wild until they contained it.

https://www.databreachtoday.com/wannacry-outbreak-hits-chipm...

It's not surprising that the system was using an unpatched OS. Many of these tools are not connected to the external internet, and they are qualified using the exact version of the software that is installed during delivery. I don't really know the details of foundry operations, but it seems like there are more incentives against installing windows updates than for it. Looking at your article it seems to say the same thing:

> patching is not always an easy endeavor in manufacturing environments because any code changes must be rigorously tested to ensure they don't have a real-world impact - for example on industrial control systems or supervisory control and data acquisition systems, which control the software and hardware that runs manufacturing processes. Indeed, ICS and SCADA systems may have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years. Many were never designed to be internet connected.

Since this is ransomware, it's unclear how an OS patch would have helped anyway.
The ransomeware in this case spreads by exploiting a vulnerability that is now patched in Windows.
Additionally, if the machines were connected to the internet, the killswitch would've prevented it from spreading. WannaCry doesn't spread if a particular hostname resolves; this acts as a killswitch. Marcus Hutchins purchased the relevant domain name after reverse engineering WannaCry and noticing the killswitch.

Edit: That's not to say the machines should be connected to the internet; I'm just explaining the circumstances that allowed this to occur.

Did they pay the ransom?
I worked for a client that got hit by WannaCry. We billed them a ton of hours for remediating the systems they had to reimage. Ransom would have been cheaper probably.
Yeah, but long term its best for everyone to never pay ransoms. (I don't know why the article doesn't mention how the ransom was handled.)
I am a security engineer, and I understand this argument. BUT if I were a decision maker in a corporation, it would be reasonable to pay a couple of hundred bucks and get back to work rather than think about what is "good for everyone". Also, as an industry, we need more measures to deal with the Ransomware problem beyond just telling companies not to pay. We preached them to patch their OS and they didn't listen, what makes us think that they will listen when we advise not to pay the ransom when their data and reputation is at stake?
Feds accuse MalwareTech in 3..2..1..
> The expert responsible for the effective WannaCry, Marcus Hutchins, was arrested last year by the FBI on six charges for conspiracy.

This makes is sound like Marcus Hutchins was responsible for WannaCry, which is incorrect.