Tech

Microsoft roll out 'highly unusual' patch to combat WannaCry malware

Microsoft roll out 'highly unusual' patch to combat WannaCry malware

Microsoft issued a โ€œhighly unusualโ€ patch for Windows XP last month to help prevent the spread of the massive WannaCry malware.

At least 75,000 computers in 99 countries were affected by the malware which encrypts a computer and demands a $300 ransom before unlocking it.

Microsoft stopped supporting Windows XP in April 2014, but the software giant took the unprecedented move of including it in the companyโ€™s Patch Tuesday round of security updates this week.

Microsoft says this move to release security updates for platforms not in extended support should not be viewed as a departure from their standard servicing policiesโ€ and that this is an exception based on intelligence that led it to believe government organisations may use these new vulnerabilities to attack Windows systems.

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