WannaCry, Petya, NotPetya: how ransomware hit the big time in 2017

Most first encountered ransomware after an outbreak shut down hospital computers and diverted ambulances this year. Is it here to stay?

For thousands of people, the first time they heard of "ransomware" was as they were turned away from hospitals in May 2017.

The WannaCry outbreak had shut down computers in more than 80 NHS organisations in England alone, resulting in almost 20,000 cancelled appointments, 600 GP surgeries having to return to pen and paper, and five hospitals simply diverting ambulances, unable to handle any more emergency cases.