What if Telefónica used Linux? What would have happened?

During the last hours the name of WannaCry has been commented on in many media and places. The reason: being the ransomware that has forced Telefónica and other major companies in Europe to shut down their computers. Last Friday the spread and collapse of Telefónica's computers was known due to the operation of the WannaCry ransomware. Since Telefónica is a company specialized in telecommunications, in a matter of hours, malware spread to major companies in Europe, including banks, hospitals and Telefónica's domestic users.

The crisis reached such a point that Telefónica itself sent an email to everyone asking them to please turn off their computers and disconnect the Wi-Fi network from their devices. A real computer crisis that many have pointed to as the biggest of the year. But What would have happened if Telefónica used computers with Gnu / Linux? Would the same thing have happened?

The number of memes and jokes that have come out around the use of Windows and WannaCry have been as popular as the news and the problem itself. However, changing the operating system would not have changed things. WannaCry is a ransomware that as it runs it encrypts the entire hard drive and it shows a screenshot where it informs you that if you want the data you have to pay for it.

This ransomware works on Windows computers, that is, all infected computers have a Windows operating system. But the biggest problem with WannaCry, as I see it, is no longer its operation but its propagation. A spread that it would not have been avoided if Telefónica used another operating system.

WannaCry is a ramsonware that works on Windows but would also have been stopped in its tracks if users had upgraded their computers. Microsoft recently released a security patch that prevented WannaCry from working. Apparently not everyone updates their computers.

In short, having used Gnu / Linux would not have prevented Telefónica from spreading WannaCry and it would also face problems. Now, one thing is true, their computers would continue to work. Currently, Telefónica's computers are down and many workers cannot work. This is something that will continue to happen this week in many companies because according to EuroPol, WannaCry attacks will continue to be present. Using another operating system such as Mac OS would not have changed things much either, WannaCry uses a javascript script, a technology that is present in all operating systems, including Androd, Gnu / Linux and iOS.

So how can I save my WannaCry team?

If you have Windows, the best thing to do is update the operating system with all the security packages that are available for our version; the second step would be to use a backup system and make a backup of our data before it is too late and finally update our antivirus and security systems. If we want to make a backup of the hard drive, Clonezilla is a great free and Open Source tool that will help us with this.

In the case of Gnu / Linux, it is advisable to update the operating system with the latest packages and updates, since normally all distributions quickly upload patches and security packages to solve these problems.

How to update our Gnu / Linux system

A good option is create a script for the operating system to update and put this script on login so that every time the computer is turned on it is updated with the latest versions. To do this, we open gedit and write the following:

#!/bin/bash

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get upgrade

We save it with the name "update.sh" and then we put it in Login Applications. Thus, when we start our session, we will be asked for the root password to update the operating system. And with that the operating system will be updated.

While we have said that Gnu / Linux does not support WannaCry, why do all this? Simply because WannaCry has versions for all operating systems. Windows is an operating system found on many home computers and on major business networks. But the second most used system in servers is Gnu / Linux. A system that is in many servers of many companies and institutions; the Internet of Things is also being created with Gnu / Linux systems and mobiles use the Linux kernel. That is the Linux version of WannaCry will be the next thing we see. That is why it is important to update our operating system.

Personal opinion on the matter of Telefónica

Any computer controversy is quickly led to the confrontation of operating systems. It is something that we cannot avoid. And in many cases, When it comes to security above all, Gnu / Linux is always the winner. Its operation is quite restrictive, even for the owner himself. What makes Gnu / Linux not as affected by attacks like WannaCry as in other operating systems.

Telefónica surely would not have had the same problems with Gnu / Linux as with Windows, neither would have had them if their operating systems were up to date. But in any case, Linux, Windows or Mac, WannaCry has not been avoided and will continue to exist on the Internet, a threat that will be present for those who do not update their computers or forget to do an updated installation.

So what I get out of all this, what I should get out of all this, is that our operating system we always have to keep it updated since they continue to exist and there will be evils that will annoy our data and our equipment. However Has Telefónica learned its lesson?

Image - Michael