London: The fallout from an unprecedented global cyberattack which has hit more than 200,000 victims could worsen as people return to work, European and British policing and security agencies warned.
An International manhunt was under way for the plotters behind the world's biggest-ever computer ransom assault which has affected more than 150 countries.
US package delivery giant FedEx, European car factories, Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica, Britain's health service and Germany's Deutsche Bahn rail network were among those hit.
"We've never seen anything like this," the head of the European Union's policing agency told Britain's ITV television, calling its reach "unprecedented". Wainwright described the cyberattack as an "escalating threat".
The warning was echoed by Britain's National Cyber Security Centre: "As a new working week begins it is likely, in the UK and elsewhere, that further cases of ransomware may come to light, possibly at a significant scale."
Images appear on victims' screens demanding payment of USD 300 (275 euros) in the virtual currency Bitcoin, saying: "Ooops, your files have been encrypted!" Payment is demanded within three days or the price is doubled, and if none is received within seven days the locked files will be deleted, according to the screen message.
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