NotPetya: The Most Devastating Cyberattack in History

What Happened

On **June 27, 2017**, a cyberattack disguised as ransomware spread across the globe with unprecedented speed and destruction. **NotPetya** (also called ExPetr or Petya) caused **over $10 billion in damages**, making it **the most costly cyberattack in history**.

💣 Unlike typical ransomware, NotPetya was designed to **destroy data permanently**—a cyberweapon, not a money-making scheme.

How It Started

NotPetya began with a **supply chain attack** targeting Ukraine:

1. Software Update Hijacked: Attackers compromised M.E.Doc, popular Ukrainian accounting software
2. Trojan Delivered: A malicious update was pushed to 400,000 users
3. Initial Infection: Companies in Ukraine were infected first
4. Global Spread: The malware spread beyond Ukraine within hours
5. Mass Destruction: Data was encrypted and rendered permanently unrecoverable

The Terrifying Speed

NotPetya spread **faster than WannaCry**, using multiple propagation methods:

• 🔥 **EternalBlue exploit** (the same SMB vulnerability used by WannaCry)
• 🔑 **Credential theft** using Mimikatz to steal passwords
• ⚡ **Lateral movement** across networks using legitimate admin tools
• 📡 **No internet required** once inside a network

Within **two hours**, NotPetya had infected organizations on **six continents**.

The Devastating Impact

NotPetya didn't just encrypt data—it **destroyed it**. Major companies worldwide were crippled:

🚢 Maersk (Global Shipping Giant)

• 💰 **$300+ million in losses**
• 📦 All 130 offices went offline simultaneously
• ⛴️ Ships stuck in ports unable to unload cargo
• 💻 Had to reinstall 4,000 servers and 45,000 PCs
• 📅 **10 days** before partial recovery

🍫 Mondelez International (Cadbury, Oreo)

• 💰 **$100+ million in losses**
• 🏭 Production facilities shut down globally
• 💾 1,700 servers destroyed
• 💻 24,000 laptops wiped

💊 Merck (Pharmaceutical Company)

• 💰 **$870 million in losses**
• 💉 Vaccine production disrupted
• 🏥 Drug shortages in hospitals
• 📊 Financial systems paralyzed

🚛 FedEx/TNT Express

• 💰 **$400 million in losses**
• 📦 Package tracking systems offline
• 🌐 Had to rebuild entire IT infrastructure

Other Major Victims

• 🔋 **Rosneft** (Russian oil company)
• ⚡ **Ukraine's power grid**
• 🏦 **Multiple Ukrainian banks**
• 🏥 **UK's National Health Service** (some hospitals)
• 📺 **Heritage Valley Health System** (US hospitals)

Why It Was So Destructive

1. Not Really Ransomware

NotPetya **looked like ransomware** but was actually a **wiper** (destructive malware). Even if victims paid the ransom:

• ❌ The decryption was **permanently broken by design**
• ❌ The email for "recovery" was **shut down within hours**
• ❌ Data was **impossible to recover**

2. State-Sponsored Attack

The US, UK, and other governments attributed NotPetya to **Russian military intelligence (GRU)**. It was:

• 🎯 **Targeted at Ukraine** during ongoing conflict
• 💥 **Collateral damage** affected global companies
• ⚔️ **Act of cyberwarfare**, not cybercrime

3. Exploited Trusted Software

By compromising **M.E.Doc accounting software**, attackers exploited **trust relationships**. Companies trusted the software and didn't suspect the update.

Critical Security Lessons

1. Patch Your Systems Immediately

NotPetya used **EternalBlue**, the same vulnerability as WannaCry (just one month earlier). Microsoft had released a patch **months before**, but many organizations hadn't applied it.

⚠️ **Lesson:** Patch known vulnerabilities immediately, especially those actively exploited.

2. Supply Chain Security Matters

The attack came through a **trusted software update**. Companies need to:

• ✅ Vet all third-party software
• ✅ Monitor software updates for anomalies
• ✅ Use software signing verification
• ✅ Limit vendor access to networks

3. Network Segmentation Saves You

Once inside, NotPetya spread **laterally** across networks. **Network segmentation** could have limited damage by:

• ✅ Isolating critical systems
• ✅ Preventing spread between departments
• ✅ Containing the infection

4. Offline Backups Are Essential

Companies with **offline, immutable backups** recovered faster. NotPetya destroyed:

• ❌ Online backups (encrypted)
• ❌ Network-attached storage (encrypted)
• ✅ Offline/air-gapped backups (survived)

5. Geopolitical Risk is Real

Even if you're not in a conflict zone, **state-sponsored attacks can affect you as collateral damage**. Global companies must prepare for cyberwarfare spillover.

How to Protect Your Business

Apply these lessons to your own security:

🔄 Keep Systems Patched

• ✅ Apply security updates within **48 hours**
• ✅ Prioritize patches for known exploited vulnerabilities
• ✅ Use automated patch management tools
• ✅ Don't delay "because it might break something"

💾 Maintain Offline Backups

• ✅ **3-2-1 backup rule**: 3 copies, 2 media types, 1 offsite
• ✅ Keep at least one backup **completely offline**
• ✅ Test backup restoration regularly
• ✅ Use immutable storage (write-once, read-many)

🏢 Segment Your Network

• ✅ Separate critical systems from general network
• ✅ Limit lateral movement capabilities
• ✅ Use VLANs and firewalls between segments
• ✅ Restrict admin credentials per segment

🔍 Monitor Supply Chain

• ✅ Audit all third-party software
• ✅ Monitor software update integrity
• ✅ Limit vendor network access
• ✅ Use software composition analysis tools

The Bottom Line

NotPetya showed that **cyberattacks can have physical-world consequences** on a global scale. The $10 billion in damages made it **the costliest cyberattack in history**, affecting everything from vaccine production to global shipping.

For businesses: **basic security hygiene** (patching, backups, segmentation) could have prevented most of the damage. Don't wait for a catastrophic attack to get serious about security.