Muscat: The situation in Oman is under control following the massive global cyber attacks, said the Information Technology Authority (ITA).
ITA has affirmed that only one case of ransomware has been reported so far at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU).
Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) said its electronic systems have been shut down to protect data as it was investigating possible attacks on their system.
“More precautionary measures are being taken to protect data from any cyber attacks,” said the statement issued by the ITA.
Several government bodies have temporarily shut down their servers to analyse any possible damages or to investigate any attack on the servers.
ITA added that all government institutions have qualified teams to deal with and prevent such cyber attacks.
Worldwide ransomware attack hit 200,000 victims in at least 150 countries, affecting everything from hospitals to schools and auto giants.
On Sunday, the Ministry of Manpower had temporarily halted all electronic services including the complaints system, work permit requests, commercial electronic license requests and work leave notices for 48 hours.
The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, The Public Authority for Consumer Protection, and Muscat Municipality have also temporarily closed their electronic services as a precautionary measure to avoid the virus spread.
Pictures posted on social media showed screens of NHS computers with images demanding payment of $300 in Bitcoin, saying: “Ooops, your files have been encrypted!”
It demands payment in three days or the price is doubled, and if not received in seven days, the files will be deleted, according to the screen message.
ITA affirmed there was “no WannaCry decryption tool”, or any other solution available so far.
WannaCry is a form of “ransomware” that locks up the files on your computer and encrypts them in a way that you cannot access them anymore.
