How could this happen? Unions and politicians slam underfunded NHS computer systems as experts say the attack should have been prevented : Daily Mail.

• UKIP’s Suzanne Evans leads calls for cyber attackers to face ‘full force of the law’
• Unions slammed underfunding of NHS following day of technological carnage
• More than 40 NHS organisations hit by the virus which demands $300
• At least 57,000 victims have been reported in 74 countries

Politicians have slammed the hackers who attacked the NHS as ‘pathetic geeks’ after thousands of computers and phone lines in hospitals across the country were shut down in a mass cyber attack.

UKIP’s health spokesman Suzanne Evans led calls for those behind the ransomware to face the ‘full force of the law’ as union leaders slammed the underfunding of the NHS.

In Britain more than 40 NHS organisations including hospitals and GP surgeries have been hit by the virus which orders users to pay $300 or have their files deleted within days.

At least 57,000 victims have been reported in 74 countries including the US, Australia, Belgium, France,Germany, Italy and Mexico – with the virus thought to be spreading at a rate of five million emails per hour.

It was only a matter of time before the NHS was subject to a major cyber attack. That’s the conclusion of security experts who claim the NHS’ reliance on old Windows XP software left it wide open to attack. Pictured is the message left on NHS computers by the recent hack

Ms Evans said: ‘This is an absolutely despicable and cowardly attack on Britain’s best-loved public service.

‘I simply cannot understand the mentality of the pathetic geeks behind this crime, who must know they are putting lives at risk.

‘I would like to express my sympathy to NHS staff who, in addition to already having to cope with heavy workloads, now have to deal with this crisis.

‘I trust NHS Digital will be able to restore systems to normal and soon as possible, and whoever set this malware in motion will face the full force of the law.’

Prime Minister Theresa May earlier said that the attack was not targeted at the NHS and that the government is ‘not aware of any evidence’ that patient data had been compromised.

Read more : Daily Mail.

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