Windows Security Update for WannaCry Ransomware (KB4012598)

The WannaCry ransomware agent started spreading throughout the world on Friday, 12 May 2017, infecting hundreds of thousands of computers running outdated Windows. Once infiltrated into the PC, it holds personal files for ransom and demands payment in Bitcoin.

WannaCry is different from other ransomware, however, since also acts like a worm, further spreading to other vulnerable computers in the network.

Computers running older Windows versions (from XP until Windows 8) are particularly vulnerable to the WannaCry ransomware, due to outdated security measures. Fortunately, Microsoft has recently released security update KB4012598 to counter this cyber-attack and stop the ransomware from ever touching the computer by identifying and repairing the vulnerability leading to the WannaCry infection.

This security patch is available for Windows 8 (x86, x64), Windows Vista (x86, x64), Windows XP SP3 (x86), Windows XP SP2 (x64), Windows XP Embedded SP3, Windows Server 2008 (x86, x64) as well as Windows Server 2003 (x86, x64). KB4012598 can be downloaded straight from the Microsoft Update Catalog and installed to quickly resolve the WannaCry vulnerability.

There are different setup files available for each Windows version and architecture type, so make sure to get the matching one. More information about KB4012598 can be read on Microsoft's website as well as our own WannaCry news coverage.