Microsoft Deploys Patch for WannaCrypt Ransomware on Old Systems

Microsoft has released an update to address the WannaCrypt ransomware attack that affected organizations and individuals worldwide. The update covers users on Windows XP, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2003, despite Microsoft having stopped supporting Windows XP several years ago.

The company's decision to provide a patch for these older systems was made with the principle of protecting its customer ecosystem in mind, according to Microsoft's blog post. The update includes detection and protection against the WannaCrypt malware, which has been causing significant disruptions globally.

Microsoft notes that users who have Windows Update enabled or are running their free antivirus software are already protected from this attack. However, for those on older systems, the new update is available here and provides additional guidance on how to stay safe from ransomware attacks.