A cyber attack over the weekend is creating IT headaches across the world at hospitals, schools and offices.
Canada largely sidestepped the so-called "ransomware" attack. However, experts say Canadians aren't immune.
A "ransomware" attack sees hackers take over a computer and demand cash, usually Bitcoin, to restore it to normal.
Speaking on AM800's The Lynn Martin Show, CTV Technology Analyst Carmi Levy says you need to prepare for these kinds of attacks because they're becoming more common.
"This has become the single, biggest form of online attack in the last year and this particular attack that we're seeing that start on Friday is the largest one we've ever seen since ransomware became a thing a few years ago," says Levy.
In addition to updating your software to the latest version, Levy recommends being careful about what you click.
"That you don't just go click on any link or any download or any attachment that you get, even if it seems to be coming from someone that you know — that is a very commonly used way of getting this malware, this bad software installed first on our computers which of course makes us ripe for the picking," says Levy.
The attack hit 150 countries, but for the most part companies and government services in Canada were unaffected.
Levy says the indentity of the hacker or hackers hasn't been determined yet, but doesn't think it's tied to political motivations from countries like North Korea or Russia.
"This is all about extortion, about making money, stealing from us basically — the online equivilant of out and out theft," says Levy. "So, it will probably be some hacker group that just wants to profit from it."
Levy recommends anyone with a Windows-based computer update their software to ensure the latest version is installed. He adds backing up your computer before an attack can also save you from giving in and paying the hackers demands.