A major cyber attack has been launched against hospitals, medical surgeries and other offices related to Britain's National Health Service.
At least 16 facilities are reporting cyber disruption that has blocked access to patient files and caused emergency rooms to reschedule appointments.
An attack has also been launched against the Spanish company Telefonica which has ordered all its staff to log off their computer systems.
British government officials call the assault "malicious and disturbing".
Both attacks have been launched by so-called "ransomware" with hackers reportedly demanding payments in the digital currency Bitcoin.
Euan Grant is an international security expert and he says hospitals can be particularly susceptible to attack.
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Technology expert Will Guyatt says Britain's National Health Service is especially vulnerable to cyber assault.
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Lauri Love has faced cyber attacking charges in the United States.
He says the attack is a serious assault.
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